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A \ 


THE SCHOOL 


ON 

Luneburg Heath. 


TRANSLATED FROM^TFfE GERMAN OF 
GUSTAV NIERITZ. 


MARY E. IRELAND. 

AUG 20 1895 

•Vx 

KtcJ?monb,'Pa. : I 

The Presbyterian Committee of Publication. 

1895- 



Copyrighted 

BY 

J A S. K, II A Z E N, Secretary of Publication, 
1895. 

Printed by 

Whittet a Sheppkrson, * 

Richmond, Va. 


TO 

Her Valued frieNd, 

MRS. charlotte e. cooper, 
Nov/ OF Honolulu, hav/aii, 
this beautiful story 
OF Life oN LUNebUrg HeatH 
IS affectionately dedicated 
by 

the translator. 


Washington^ D. C. 


I 



CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER I. 

The Hurried Departure, . 

Page. 

7 

CHAPTER II. 

Luneburg Heath, .... 

15 

CHAPTER III. 
Hilbert Holms’ Cottage, . 

22 

CHAPTER lY. 

Lost on the Heath, .... 

29 

CHAPTER Y. 

Grandfather Holm, . 

51 

CHAPTER YI. 

Learning to Work, .... 

G8 

CHAPTER YII. 

A Yisit to Neighbor Fuhrmann’s, 

78 

CHAPTER YIII. 

The First Day at-School, . . 

90 


CHAPTER IX. 

Rebellion and its Result, . 


104 


6 


Contents. 



CHAPTER X. 

Page. 

A Bee-keeper, 


121 


CHAPTER XI. 


Trimm Again, 


130 


CHAPTER XII. 



Back to Hamburg. 


137 


THE SCHOOL 


ON 


LUNEBURG HEATH. 


CHAPTER 1. 

A HURRIED DEPARTURE. 

NE evening in the month of May, 1813, 



the wealthy merchant, Herr Eckermeier, 
was entertaining a number of his many friends 
at supper in his handsome home in Hamburg. 

It was at a time when that city believed it- 
self exempt from the yoke which Napoleon 
Bonaparte had thrown upon many other great 
commercial cities. The French army was now 
in Russia, and Germans were breathing more 
freely than they had done for years, although 
many of their bravest sons were stationed upon 
the frontiers to keep the ^usurper at bay ; for 
the French vulture was not subdued, it was 
only dormant, and at any time might spread 


8 The School on Ininehurg Heath, 

its wings, and sink beak and talons into its 
prey. 

But these anxieties were for the moment for- 
gotten, and Herr Eckermeier’s guests enjoyed 
the good viands, and congratulated themselves 
that they had enjoyed respite from war. 

“ Long live free Germany ! ” said one of 
them, “and long may we enjoy the blessing of 
peace ! ” 

While he was uttering these words a man, 
plain-looking and of middle age, passed up the 
broad stone steps of the mansion and gave a 
rap upon the door. He was dressed in sailor’s 
clothes, and appeared hurried and excited in 
manner. 

The door was opened by a servant, who de- 
manded his business. 

“ I wish to speak to the master of the house, 
and without a moment’s delay.” 

“He has company this evening; you must 
come at another time, and a better time.” 

“I could not come at a better time; if the 
house were on fire, would you advise the fire- 
men to go, and to come at a better time ? ” 

“So; is it important enough to call the mas- 
ter from the table ? ” 


A Hurried Departure^ 9 

‘‘ I tell you it is important,” cried the sailor, 
impatiently, and if you don’t go, I will thrust 
you aside and push my way in among his 
guests.” 

“Just try that once,” replied the servant, in- 
solently, as he held out his arms to bar the 
way. 

In an instant the sailor grasped him, lifted 
him from the floor, and carried him to the door 
of the room from whence the sound of voices 
proceeded. 

“ I have a mind to carry you in and throw 
you at his feet and say, ‘Here is an unfaithful 
servant, who will not allow you to be warned 
of danger.’ ” 

“Let me go!” said the man, angrily; “I will 
tell him, and I hope that he will tell me to kick 
you out of the house.” 

“All right ; you shall be welcome to try it. 
Now run, while I count fifty, and if you have 
not towed him out by that time you will see 
stars.” 

The sailor had not finished counting fifty 
when Herr Eckermeier stood beside him. 

“ Good evening, Herr Eckermeier,” said he, 


10 The School on Lunebnrg Heath, 

taking off liis hat. “ Yon snrely know me ? I 
have been in your service long enough.” 

“Andreas Holm!” said the merchant, clasp- 
ing the rough hand, cordially; “I am really 
glad to see you.” 

“I have something to tell you, Herr Ecker- 
meier, if you will take me where we will be by 
ourselves.” 

“Yes, you can come with me to my office ; 
we will not be disturbed there.” 

As soon as they reached it, Andreas went to 
a large mahogany centre-table, and, placing 
the tip of his right foot under it, he applied 
the tip of the left foot to the heel of his boot, 
and drew it off, and, reaching down to the very 
toe, he drew out a letter and gave it into the 
hand of his employer. 

“You will excuse the way I carried it,” said 
he; “the main thing is that you get it safely.” 

Herr Eckermeier glanced hastily over it, and 
his face grew pale and anxious. He looked 
like one who had risked all he owned upon a 
vessel, and saw it sinking rapidly into the sea. 

The letter was written in the French lan- 
guage, but was read without difficulty. “Ely 


A Hurried Departure. 11 

with your wife and children,” it said. “The 
Marshal Davoust has sworn yengeance against 
you and others in Hamburg, and bad times are 
in store for you. We are now in possession of 
the left bank of the Elbe ; in a short time Ham- 
burg will be surrounded, and your escape cut 
off; so fly immediately. Perhaps the safest 
place would be England.” 

“Who gave you this?” inquired Herr Ecker- 
meier, with trembling lips from which all color 
had fled. 

*“A French army surgeon, a tall, thin man 
with a deep scar on his left cheek.” 

“ That is the noble and grateful Deuclos ; he 
is rewarding me for taking care of him in our 
house during a serious attack of illness. And 
you, Andreas, how can I reward you for this 
kindness ? ” 

“I am only trying to repay you for your 
many kindnesses to me,” replied the sailor. 
“You have been a true friend to me and mine. 
My vdfe, when a servant in your family, was 
well treated, and, when she left, your wife did 
well by her. But what do you think of doing? ” 

“ What do you advise, Andreas ? The news 


12 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

has taken me so by surprise that I feel unset- 
tled, and my mind will not act.” 

“I think the French army surgeon’s advice 
is the best ; go to England ; I will help you all 
I can. Your wife can come to us, and we will 
make her as comfortable as possible ; the chil- 
dren can go to my brother’s home in Hanover. 
You know him ; his wife is a good, kind woman, 
and they are true Christians ; your children will 
see and hear nothing but what is good. Their 
home on Luneburg Heath is poor, but your 
children will be cared for as their own. Hil- 
bert provides well.” 

“But, Andreas, must we be separated? At 
least, can’t the children be with their mother?” 

“There will be much less danger for you all 
if you go to dijfferent places. I will wait here 
until you decide what to do, and will help you 
all I can.” 

In a few minutes the lights in the supper- 
room were extinguished, and the guests had 
departed silently and in haste, well knowing 
that they, too, must provide for the safety of 
themselves and their families. 

At midnight the door of the beautiful and 


A Hurried Departure, 13 

luxurious home opened quietly, and the forms 
of three grown persons and three children came 
out, all loaded with baskets and packages. 
These persons were Andreas Holm, Herr and 
Frau Eckermeier, and their three children, 
Pauline, Guido, and Thekla. They turned and 
gave a tearful look at the deserted house, then 
followed their guide to the harbor. 

‘‘Hi-hoi! ho! hiol.” sang Andreas, and from 
the multitude of small boats one was rowed 
quickly to the shore by a strong, overgrown 
boy, and Andreas and the Eckermeiers stepped 
in. 

“This is Thomas, my brother Hilbert’s son, 
a good, honest, kind-hearted boy,” remarked 
Andreas ; “ he will take you safely to a vessel 
bound for England, and afterwards will take 
the children to his home on Luneburg Heath. 
You may trust him, for he will be discreet and 
faithful to your interests in every way.” 

Thomas made no comment upon the merited 
praise of his uncle, neither did he ask any 
questions in regard to the children. He had 
heard all from his uncle, who had given in- 
structions before going to the Eckermeier 


14 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

home, well knowing that the merchant would 
know of no better plan than the one which he 
proposed. 

They soon reached the vessel, where, with 
tears and embraces, the family took leave of 
each other, only God knowing the anguish 
which the great conqueror, Bonaparte, had 
brought upon his fellow-creatures. 


CHAPTEK 11. 

LUNEBURG HEATH. 

O N the third day after the separation of pa- 
rents and children, a light wagon drawn 
by two poor dejected-looking horses dragged 
wearily through the sand and moors of Lune- 
burg Heath toward the cottage of Gilbert 
Holm. 

Thomas sat on the front seat with the driver, 
and had no thought of what was passing in the - 
minds of the Eckermeier children. The Lune- 
burg Heath was his native place, and was 
beautiful in his eyes, but to the Hamburg 
young people it w^as the dreariest spot they 
had ever seen. They were tired, discontented, 
and home-sick. 

Like all the peasantry living upon the heath, 
Thomas loved it in all seasons of the year, and 
it truly had a peculiar beauty of its own. Al- 
though there were miles and miles of trackless 
sand, there were also at long intervals miles of 
heather, which in the season of bloom was 
15 


16 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

beautiful beyond description. Sometimes the 
travellers came to a wooded spot, then meadows 
through which ran a winding stream ; some- 
times a rocky path, where the ground rose 
steeply to an eminence upon which were 
gnarled oaks, and then at long distances apart 
the cottages, or, as the Eckermeier children 
considered them, huts of the peasants. 

“This is terrible,” said Guido, in a low tone, 
to his sisters, “the French in Russia can’t be 
in a worse plight.” 

His voice seemed to rouse the coachman, who 
had apparently been buried in deep thought ; 
he chirked to the horses and drew the reins 
somewhat quickly, but without any effect upon 
the steeds. Thomas also seemed like one 
awakened from a dream, but he made no re- 
mark. 

“This endless desert of sand, sweet broom, 
and heather makes me miserable,” continued 
Guido. 

“But we are going along very well, though 
we don’t travel fast,” interposed Thekla. 

“ Travel ! I don’t call it travelhng, it is only 
creeping. Those old snails of horses are asleep 


Lunehurg Ileatli. 


17 


half the time, and if it were not for the smoke 
coming from the driver’s pipe, I would say he 
was dead. I have a notion to give him a 
push.” 

“ Oh, don’t ! ” exclaimed Pauhne, in alarm^ 
“he would be angry, and might set us out in 
the sand, where we would starve.” 

“Let him try it. He would find that Thomas 
would have something to say about it.” 

“I wish he would drive a little faster, we 
are like passengers on a ship becalmed at 
sea.” 

“ Only worse,” said Pauline, “ there they at 
least, can watch the waves, and a sea-bird now 
and then, and perhaps a shark or porpoise.” 

“ But we see the bright, green heath grass in 
places, and the moors, and the sheep watched 
by a shepherd,” interposed Thekla. 

“I would like to give this part of Germany 
to Napoleon,” remarked Guido, “I hate the 
French as I do rats and snakes, but I would not 
fare any worse with them than in this wretched 
place of sand and moors, and not a person to 
speak to but Thomas and that lout of a driver.” 

“ What use would our pretty clothes be here, 
2 


18 The School on Lunehurg Heath, 

Thekla ? ” said Pauline, “ we might act comedy 
in them, that is about the only use we could 
make of them.” 

“ If papa and mamma were with us, I would 
care nothing about dress or anything else,” re- 
plied she, her eyes filling with tears ; the others 
flushed at the reminder that they were more 
concerned over their present discomfort than 
over the separation from their kind parents. 

‘'How far is it to the next house, driver?” 
said Guido, willing to change the subject. 

“Three pipes.” 

“ Three pipes ! What do you mean by that ? ” 

But the driver had spoken, he had nothing 
more to say, but gazed stolidly before him, so 
Thomas took it upon himself to explain. 

“ You must know, young Herr, that we have 
no way of telling the time; he can only judge 
the distance by the length of time it takes to 
smoke three pipes full of tobacco.” 

“That is a queer way to tell the time,” said 
Guido, “the bowls of some people’s pipes are 
larger than others, which would make a differ- 
ence in the journey.” 

“ He travels by his pipe, not by other peo- 


Lunebtcrg Heath. 


19 


pie’s ; but look, Petrus, there come the French. 
Hi, we are in for it ! Petrus, do you hear, whip 
up and get us out of the track ! ” 

But it was of no use, Petrus could not be 
moved from his stolid dumbness, even the 
fright and entreaties of the girls having no 
effect. 

“Let us knock the stupid old wretch from 
his perch and take the reins in our own hands,” 
said Guido, angrily. 

“No, it would be of no use now,” said Thomas, 
“the French have seen us. It maybe that Pe- 
trus is right. If we take to flight it will look 
suspicious, and they will follow us. AVe will 
keep quietly on our way, and not attract their 
notice any more than we can help.” 

He swung himself down from the wagon and 
walked behind it, to the anxiety of the children, 
who thought he was about to desert them, but 
were ashamed of their suspicion when they saw 
him cover their provisions at the back of the 
wagon with hay to hide them from the enemy ; 
after which he resumed his seat beside Petrus. 

“Do you speak French? ” inquired he of the 
children. 


20 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

“Yes, as well as German.” 

“Well, don’t speak a word of it, or they will 
be asking you all sorts of awkward questions 
about your parents and your home. Don’t let 
them know that you understand them. There 
are but a few in the company, and I hope they 
will pass us by.” 

Not so; they came on shouting, singing, and 
making jests upon the poor horses driven by 
Petrus, which jests passed harmlessly by, as 
he could not understand a word of French. 

“ Get down from the wagon,” said they, flour- 
ishing their sabres. 

Neither Thomas or Petrus understood a word, 
and the children gave no token that they knew 
what was demanded of them, but a wave of the 
hand toward the ground, from the leader, could 
not be ignored, and all descended, whereupon 
the soldiers searched the wagon and found the 
eatables, which they devoured greedily. 

The packages belonging to the children were 
opened, but finding neither money nor eatables 
they were thrown aside. 

Guido’s heart beat anxiously, fearing they 
would ransack the till under the seat and find 


Lunehurg Heath. 21 

the silver which his father had given Thomas, 
but a smile and nod from the boy assured him 
that it was not there, but had been hidden in a 
safe place. 

The search of the wagon being completed, 
the soldiers insisted that the pockets of their 
prisoners should be turned inside out, but they 
found nothing but a pocket-knife in that of 
Thomas, which being old they threw away, 
some bread-crumbs and a ball in Guido’s, a 
vinaigrette in Pauline’s, which, having a silver 
top, they captured, and a doll from Thekla, 
after which they touched their hats to the girls 
and galloped away. 

‘‘Where did you put the money, Thomas?” 
inquired Guido, eagerly; “I gave it up for 
lost.” 

“I hid it in the sand and marked, the spot 
with the toe of my boot, while they were climb- 
ing into the wagon.” 

He went to the spot, took up the money and 
put it back in the till, and they kept on their 
journey, glad that they had fared no worse at 
the hands of the enemy. 


CHAPTEK III. 

HILBERT HOLM'S COTTAGE. 

HEY travelled along without further ad- 



I venture, and toward evening Thomas, 
with pleasure beaming in his eyes, pointed out 
a long, low, straw-thatched cottage as his home. 

The children were dumb with dismay when 
they looked upon it, and, as they contrasted it 
with their home in Hamburg, wondered how 
they could ever live in such a place. It was 
set in the midst of a barren waste of sand; 
moss covered the straw roof, and poverty seemed 
to reign supreme. They felt dulled and stupid 
from the monotony of the long journey, and 
made no move to descend when the wagon 
stopped near the cottage ; but Thomas sprang 
nimbly out, took the money-sack from the till, 
and then helped the children to descend. 

At that moment the door of the cottage 
opened, and Hilbert Holm, his wife and chil- 
dren, clustered about Thomas, rejoicing to see 
him come home ; then they turned to the Eck- 


22 


23 


Hilbert Ilolrrls Cottage. 

ermeier children and welcomed them cordially^ 
Thomas having explained their unexpected 
visit. 

But the children could think of nothing ex- 
cept the house. Hamburg’s poorest tenement 
seemed a palace in comparison, and they felt 
that they could not stay. 

When they followed the family inside, they 
were more discouraged than before. They 
found the cottage to consist of one long room 
with one window, and at the further end a low 
partition separated it from the stalls in which 
were two cows and a number of small black 
sheep. Another board partition at the op- 
posite side from the door separated the sleep- 
ing-chambers of the family from the main 
room. 

A peat fire smouldered on the stone hearth, 
and the smoke and odor from it filled the 
place. A crane swung over it, from which was 
suspended an iron pot containing the oat-meal 
porridge for the supper. 

In the most comfortable corner of the hearth 
sat an old man with long white hair, to whom 
Thomas went the moment that he entered, and 


24 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

greeted him warmly, calling him grandfather, 
giving the children an opportunity to look 
about them, after which they were presented 
to the grandfather; then all took seats upon 
rough, home-made stools before the fire, for 
the evening was cool, although the day had 
been warm and pleasant. 

Thomas entertained them by giving an ac- 
count of the journey, to which all listened with 
rapt attention. 

“The poor little one is crying,” said Frau 
Holm, glancing compassionately at Thekla. 
“Are you grieving for your mother, my child?” 

“Yes, and the smoke hurts my eyes.” 

“No doubt it does, and all seems strange to 
you, for it is so different from your home in 
Hamburg. But you will get used to it, and it 
is the best that we can do for you.” 

“Mother,” said Thomas, “here is the money 
that Herr Eckermeier gave into my care ; please 
put it in a safe place.” 

Frau Holm arose and took it to her bed- 
chamber, then set about placing earthen bowls 
upon the oak table that stood in the middle of 
the large room. 


25 


Hilbert Holm's Cottage, 

“What a pity that the soldiers took your 
vinaigrette, Pauline! You have need of it 
here,” remarked Guido. 

He had spoken in French, and the eyes of 
the cottagers were fastened upon him in sur- 
prise, and, it appeared, slight displeasure. 

“My son,” said the grandfather, “you are 
our guests, and it is not polite to speak in our 
presence in a language that we do not under- 
stand. If you see anything that you don’t like, 
sjDeak out freely.” 

“We often speak in French,” replied Guido, 
reddening; “we don’t wish to forget the lan- 
guage.” 

“ What was it that you said to your sister ? 
Speak out, and tell the trath. Our Father in 
heaven will punish all who tell falsehoods ; he 
tells us so in his word.” 

No one had ever spoken in this plain manner 
to the rich merchant’s son, and his pride, and 
anger at the rebuke from one whom he consid- 
ered far from being his equal, kept him silent. 
But the steady gaze of the old man was fixed 
upon him, and he saw that Thomas and his 
parents were also waiting for a reply, so he 
thought it better to speak : 


26 The School on Lunebitrg Heath, 

“I said that this place does not smell good, 
and I wish the French soldiers had not taken 
her smelling-bottle. We do not like to have 
cows and sheep and chickens so near us ; we 
are not accustomed to living this way ; I don’t 
see how we can bear it.” 

“My son,” replied the grandfather, in his 
usual tender tone, “ the place, I suppose, does 
not smell pleasant to you; yet I venture to 
say that it is better for the lungs than all the 
perfumes in an apothecary store. It you want 
proof, look at the ruddy cheeks of these strong, 
healthy children. In a few days you will not 
notice the smell any more than we do, who 
know nothing better.” 

“A few days!” commented Pauline to her- 
self. “How can we endure it?” And Petrus, 
coming in at that moment and taking a seat 
among them, added to the measure of her dis- 
content. 

The porridge, in which were meat and pota- 
toes, was put into a large earthen dish, and, 
smoking hot, was placed in the middle of the 
table. Then Hilbert and Thomas carried the 
arm-chair in which the grandfather sat and 


27 


Hilbert Holm's Cottage. 

placed it at the head of the table ; Herr Holm 
and his wife sat at either side of him, the chil- 
dren on benches, and Petrus at the foot of the 
table. Then all folded their hands, while the 
grandfather asked a blessing upon the meal. 

Guido folded his hands with the others, but 
at the same time he was considering the rough 
earthen bowls, the pewter spoons, the unplaned 
table devoid of a cloth, and the black bread. 

After the first taste of the soup he laid down 
his spoon, believing that he could eat no more, 
and, had it not been for the steady gaze of the 
grandfather, he would have left the table. 

Pauline, too, believed it impossible to eat 
such coarse food, and Frau Holm, noticing her 
dissatisfaction, passed the home-cheese to her, 
but she shook her head in refusal; to her it 
looked no more tempting than the soup. 

“Our visitors are like hot-house plants 
brought suddenly into a cold air; we must 
protect them a little,” said the grandfather. 
“Daughter Eachel, get them a cup of new 
milk; that may tempt them to eat.” 

The milk was brought, and they drank it; 
but what was that in comparison with the lux- 


28 The School on Lnneburg Heath. 

uries to which they had been accustomed all 
their lives? 

Upon the miserable food, as the Eckermeier 
children considered it, these devout heath peo- 
ple had asked a blessing, and had given thanks 
when the meal was finished ; and before retir- 
ing for the night all knelt in prayer, thanking 
God for the blessings that they enjoyed. 

Guido shared the straw bed occupied by 
Thomas; and in place of warm, soft blankets, 
there was a thick, coarse covering, the like of 
which he had never seen, and which he would 
have thought fit only to walk on ; but he was 
tired and sleepy, and did not conclude to sit 
up rather than lie in such a bed, as he had at 
first intended. 

“I never in my life thanked God for my 
good home in Hamburg,” thought he; “no 
wonder it has been taken from me ; ” and, fold- 
ing his hands, he prayed for forgiveness, and 
for a very short stay on Luneburg Heath. 


CHAPTEE lY. 

LOST ON THE HEATH. 


UIDO was awakened the next morning by 



the crowing of chickens that were roost- 
ing upon poles in the stalls, and realized that 
he was on Luneburg Heath instead of in his 
handsome home in Hamburg. He heard the 
rustling of dry heather in the cow stables, the 
bleating of lambs, and grunting of pigs in the 
sty outside. 

He slept again until the stirring of the family 
awoke him, and he saw the rays of the sun 
coming through the one small window by the 
grandfather’s chair. 

‘‘ Oh, I hoped it was all a bad dream ! ” said 
he to himself, glancing over the low partition 
to the roof of the main room, from which was 
suspended dried herbs, leeks, and some pieces 
of fat meat. “ I can’t and won’t stay here 
another day^ Thomas and Petrus must take me 
back with them to Hamburg. I will die if I 
have to stay here a week.” 


29 


30 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

Eager to put this plan in practice, he sprang 
from his bed, dressed in haste and ran out to 
see them, and tell them what he intended 
doing. Wagon and horses were gone, only 
his sisters and the other children were to be 
seen, bathing hands and face in the stream that 
trickled from the spring. 

“ Good morning, one of the seven sleepers ! ” 
said Thekla, cheerily, ‘‘ come and perform your 
morning ablutions ; in other w^ords, wash.” 

‘‘ We are making our toilet,” laughed Pauline, 
somewhat scornfully, ‘‘ come and look at our 
fancy washbowl and mirror.” 

“Where is the wagon; where the horses and 
Petrus, and Thomas ? ” 

“ Gone toward Hamburg an hour ago, Frau 
Holm gave them the porridge left of supper for 
their breakfast.” 

Guido threw himself upon the ground and 
rolled over and over in despair over this infor- 
mation. 

At that moment Frau Holm called to them to 
come in to breakfast, and all obeyed promptly 
but Guido ; he waited until the door closed 
behind them, then struck out in the direc- 


Lost on the Heath, 


31 


tion of Hamburg, following the tracks made by 
the horses’ hoofs and the wheels of the wao^on. 

o 

But these soon disappeared in the soft sand, 
but he kept on until he was forced to sit down 
to rest. 

His heart beat rapidly from the unusual 
exertion, and his whole body was moist from 
the heat of the sun. He was weak from thirst 
and hunger, for he had eaten very little supper 
the night before, and the French had robbed 
them of dinner. 

He looked about him and shuddered at the 
silence of the great heath which seemed to ex- 
tend to the horizon on every side. No trees 
in sight,, no green fields, no running brooks, no 
cottages to break the monotony of the scene, 
no bird clove the air with light wing, no gay 
butterfly hovered aimlessly about. 

Weariness began to tell painfully upon the 
boy; he realized that he could never reach 
Hamburg, and wished that he had never left 
the cottage, where he at least could see human 
beings, and among them his sisters. 

He felt in his pockets for something to eat, 
but not even a crumb of the despised black 


32 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

bread could be found. He felt desolate and 
miserable, for the silence was appalling to 
one accustomed to the streets of a large city ; 
and feeling too restless to sit still any longer, he 
arose and walked on, hoping when he reached 
the top of a hill he saw in the distance, he 
would see a cottage, or, at least, a shepherd 
attending his flock, who could direct him the 
way to Hamburg. But the sun had reached 
its highest point in the heavens and he had 
seen no one, and sank down in complete ex- 
haustion. 

“ I wonder if people feel this way when they 
are dying?” thought he. “Oh, I wish I had 
never run away. My sisters are getting as 
much to eat as they want, and water to drink. 
Oh, for a drink of the water, poor as it is, and 
a piece of the black bread, or a bowl of the 
soup that I would not eat last evening! Oh, 
Father in heaven, I have been ungrateful for 
all that you have given me, and now I am pun- 
ished by being allowed to die upon this terrible 
heath.” 

He threw himself face downward upon the 
fresh new heather which was about him. 


Lost on the Heath, 33 

which cooled his parched cheeks and aching 
head. 

‘‘Oh, mercy, mercy, dear God; do not let 
me die here of hunger and thirst!” was his 
prayer. 

Presently he heard the distant bark of a dog, 
and with a cry of joy he sprang up, and looked 
in the direction from whence the sound came, 
and saw in the distance a shepherd watching a 
few black sheep, like most of those seen upon 
Luneburg Heath. 

Could any one have supposed that the rich 
merchant’s son, the proud Guido, would run 
and clasp the hand of the ill-clothed, dull look- 
ing boy? He sat, looking like a chimney- 
sweep, upon a gentle knoll, with apparently no 
thought in life but to drive his sheep out in the 
morning and bring them in at night, yet Guido 
shed tears of joy at seeing him, and could have 
clasped him in his arms, so rejoiced was he to 
see a human being and to hear a voice. 

The boy looked stolidly upon him. 

“Where did you come from?” inquired he. 
“You don’t look like one of our heath peo- 
ple.” 


3 


34 The School on Luneburg Heath, 

“No, I am from Hamburg, but I came from 
Herr Hilbert Holm’s cottage this morning.” 

“What do you want of me?” 

“A drink of water out of your jug; I am al- 
most choked from thirst.” 

“You are welcome to what is there. I can 
wait until I go home this evening.” 

“x4nd something to eat,” said Guido, after 
drinking all that was in the jug. 

“I haven’t much left, but you shall have it,” 
responded the good Samaritan, as he put a 
piece of black bread and cheese into his hand. 
Guido devoured them greedily, and thought 
that nothing in his life had ever tasted so good, 
although it was exactly like the bread and 
cheese which he had disdained to touch the 
evening before, and not so good as the soup 
with meat and potatoes, of which he would eat 
but one spoonful. 

Like the kingfisher in the fable, he had let 
the carp, trout, and other good fish swim by, 
and had to be contented with a poor little frog. 
He would have eaten three times the quantity, 
had it been there to eat. As it was, he felt suf- 
ficiently strengthened to think of keeping on 
his journey. 


Lost on the Heath, 


35 


“ How far is it to Hamburg, and what direc- 
tion must I take?” inquired he. 

“To Hamburg!” echoed the boy, in open- 
mouthed astonishment; “I don’t know which 
way to go ; I never was off Luneburg Heath in 
my life, and never expect to be. I have no 
idea in what direction it is from here. It is at 
least one hundred miles away.” 

“Then in what direction is Hilbert Holm’s 
cottage ? ” 

“ Hilbert Holm ? I don’t know anything of 
him. I never heard of anybody of that name. 
I have enough to do to attend to my sheep ; I 
don’t bother about anything else.” 

“Where can I inquire?” asked Guido, with 
sinking heart. “It will soon be night, and I 
can’t stay on the heath.” 

“There is a shepherd’s stall beyond that hill. 
That is where I stay at night. They know 
everything, and can tell you how to go.” 

Guido thanked him, and went eagerly off in 
the direction pointed out, and soon reached 
the stall. He found it to be a miserable hut, 
making the Holms’ cottage a palace by com- 
parison, so wretchedly ill-kept and forlorn was 


36 The School on Lunehurg Heath, 

it, and so far removed from the perfect cleanli- 
ness of that under the care of Frau Holm. 

Poor and miserable as the residents were, 
the milk of human kindness was not wanting, 
and the woman gave him a piece of brown 
bread and a cup of milk, which he accepted 
gratefully. Discouraged, hungry, and with^his 
clothes dusty and torn by briars, he looked 
very different from the boy who had travelled 
over the heath the day before, complaining of 
the slowness of the horses. Now he would 
have rejoiced to see them and the wagon, and 
even the stupid Petrus, for his feet were so 
sore that he feared he would never be able to 
walk to the Holms’ cottage, much less to Ham- 
burg. 

“ How far is it to Herr Hilbert Holm’s cot- 
tage ? ” asked he, while eating his lunch. 

“It would take several hours to walk there, 
and I can’t direct you the way to go. You 
would get lost upon the heath, and I have no 
one to send with you,” said the woman, the 
only person whom Guido saw about the place. 

His heart sank, for he would never be able 
to find it, if one who lived upon the heath con- 


Lost on the Heath, 


37 


sidered it such a task; and to remain in the 
sheep-stall over night appeared nearly as bad 
as sleeping out in the sand. 

‘‘What am I to do?” asked he, with tear- 
dimmed eyes. 

“ The best thing is to stay quietly here until 
some one happens along who is going in that 
direction.” 

“Do people often pass here?” 

“No, indeed; it is sometimes weeks that no 
one passes ; but then, again, it happens oftener.” 

Guido was afraid to venture alone and night 
coming on ; but he went outside, and, looking 
in every direction, he hoped to see a human 
form loom in sight; and, seeing none, he threw 
himself upon the ground and shed bitter tears. 
He had despised the Holms’ cottage and all it 
contained, and now he longed for it, as did our 
first parents for the garden of Eden ; and the 
return to it seemed about as hopeless. 

He stayed outside for two long, miserable 
hours, hoping to see some one, and at length, 
to his great joy, he saw a man coming with 
rapid steps, and bearing upon his shoulder a 
bundle of willow poles for hoops, and carrying 


38 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

in his hand a mallet such as is used by coop- 
ers. His attire, though poor, was clean and 
whole, and his appearance in every way better 
than that of any one whom Guido had seen 
since coming to Luneburg Heath. 

“Good evening, stranger!” cried Guido, 
eagerly. “Are you going in the direction of 
Herr Hilbert Holm’s cottage?” 

The man stopped and looked attentively at 
the boy, who spoke such pure German, and 
at his clothes, which, he saw at a glance, did 
not belong to a heath boy. 

“Why, that is ’ singular,” replied he, pleas- 
antly; “I am going directly there ; but first I 
must ask Frau Keppler if she needs hoops put 
on any of her tubs or casks.” 

Guido’s face flushed with joy over this good 
news. He would willingly have waited for 
hours to be certain that he would at last reach 
the once despised cottage. 

“You look tired, my boy. Have you walked 
far?” 

“Yes, I have been walking all day until 
about two hours ago.” 

“Well, sit down, either outside or in the 
cottage, until I see if anything be wanting.” 


Lost on the Heath. 


39 


** Welcome, welcome, Herr Schoolmaster!” 
said the voice of Frau Keppler, at the door. 

butter-can is leaking like a hopper, and the 
cask for holding buttermilk will fall to Jbits if it 
doesn’t have a new hoop. My husband could 
have made some kind of a mend of them, but 
he is busy every day breaking up moor ground.” 

Schoolmaster ! ” thought Guido, looking 
more attentively at the new-comer; “I would 
not like such a looking man to teach me.” 

“ I will put the hoops on, and have plenty of 
time to reach Herr Holm’s before night,” said 
the schoolmaster, kindly, to the waiting boy. 
“Do you wish to learn to put on hoops?” 

Guido had no ambition in that direction; 
but, as it was done outside the cottage, and as 
nothing else was there to enlist his attention, 
he watched, and could not but admire the skill 
with which it was done. 

“He is a good cooper, that is certain,” 
thought Guido; “but a schoolmaster! What 
would our Hamburg teachers think of him ? ” 
“Now, do you think that you could hoop a 
barrel?” asked Herr Welley, when the job was 
finished. “ It is well to learn everything that 


40 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

comes in one’s way, for it will come into use 
some time during life, if only to pass the in 
formation on to another.” 

‘‘You can ask Herr Holm to pay you for 
hooping my casks,” said Frau Keppler, com- 
ing to the door. “I gave this boy, who has 
run off from there, a cup of milk and a slice of 
bread, which will pay for your work.” 

“ Good, very good, Frau Keppler,” responded 
the schoolmaster; and, nodding to Guido, he 
swung his hoops again upon his shoulder, 
took up his mallet, and they set out for their 
long walk across the heath. 

In his kind, gentle way, Herr Welley drew 
from the boy the whole story, to which he lis- 
tened attentively, but made no comment until 
it was finished. 

“You have done not only a foolish and un- 
grateful, but a cruel thing in treating your sis- 
ters and your entertainers in this manner,” 
said he. “I know what anxiety they must 
have suffered, for it is not at all uncommon for 
persons to be lost on this heath, and to perish 
miserably from hunger. If you consider the 
life in the Holms’ cottage so disagreeable, it 


Lost on the Heath. 


41 


was cowardly in you to leave your sisters to 
endure it alone, and to add to it their anxiety 
as to your fate. You remind me of a dashing 
young officer who deserts the ranks when there 
are hardships to brave.” 

“ I never thought once of their being anxious 
about me.” 

“No, self seems to be the only person who 
was worthy of consideration,” replied Herr 
Welley. “You will find, as you journey about 
the world, that it is not all Hamburg with its 
comforts and luxuries. It is a part of God’s 
plan that there should be a Luneburg Heath, 
where people can live with but few pleasures, 
and it is also a part of his plan that you shall 
dwell there for a season; and you are doing 
very wrong to rebel against him and against 
your parents.” 

“I never thought of any of this. I was not 
contented ; I wanted to get back to Hamburg, 
and I tried to go.” 

“But Providence did not aid you in the 
foolish undertaking; he is not only sending 
you back, but has kindly made it such a bur- 
den that you are glad to go back. You must 


42 The School on Lunehtirg Heath, 

thank him on bended knee for his great good- 
ness to you.” 

“But I can never be contented there,” said 
Guido, with tear-dimmed eyes. “The cottage 
is so dark and smoky and dreary, and they 
keep cattle in stalls under the same roof.” 

“ ‘A merciful man is merciful to his beast.’ 
Herr Holm is not able to build a separate sta- 
ble for his stock, and, wishing to have them as 
comfortable and safe as possible, he shares his 
own roof with them, which is doing the very 
best that he can.” 

“It seems dreadful to me to have cows and 
sheep and chickens close by my bed.” 

“No doubt it does, but you will get used to 
it. I love animals so well that to me it is 
pleasant to have them near; they are good 
company to us heath-dwellers, and we have 
always been accustomed to have them under 
the same roof with ourselves.” 

“And the oat-meal soup or porridge, I never 
can learn to like it, and the black bread is ter- 
rible.” 

“No doubt there is a vast difference between 
them and the rich viands which you enjoyed 


Lost on the Heath. 


43 


in your home ; but the pleasure of eating only 
lasts while the food is passing over the tongue, 
and the healthy appearance of the Holm chil- 
dren proves that their food is nourishing.” 

“We have always had soft beds, and nice 
sheets and blankets ; here we sleep on the floor 
and on straw beds. I was as tired when I got 
up this morning as when I went to bed.” 

“ Your parents lived in luxury, and are now 
in trouble, and are, no doubt, bearing it as 
patiently as possible. Why should you be dis- 
contented? You are healthy, free from afflic- 
tion, and have no anxiety about your support 
any more than the birds of the air. Of course 
there is a vast difference between your life now 
and what it was; but it is only for a short 
time, while the heath-dwellers will remain here 
for life, and not only will remain, but will be 
contented, because God placed them here.” 

“ To-day, when I was tired and hungry, and 
thought that there was nothing for me to do 
but to die on this terrible heath, I longed to 
get back to Hilbert Holm’s cottage ; but I am 
sure that I can never be contented there, no 
matter how long I stay.” 


44 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

“If I were to go to the wilds of Africa, I 
would see a vast difference between the snails, 
rats, and other loathsome things the natives 
eat, and our good oat-meal porridge and whole- 
some brown bread and cheese and vegetables ; 
more than that, I should have no company 
that would be of advantage to me.” 

Guido made no reply to this ; he was com- 
paring the people whom he had seen while on 
Luneburg Heath with the friends he had left. 

“You are blest in sojourning in a Christian 
home like that of Hilbert Holm,” continued 
Herr Welley, reading his thoughts. “Grand- 
father Holm is in himself a blessing in the path 
of your sisters and yourself. He is a faithful 
follower of his Saviour, a true pattern of a 
Christian gentleman, though but a poor cot- 
tager on Luneburg Heath. We can all learn 
much of him.” 

It was almost dark when they reached the 
cottage, where they found Frau Holm standing 
outside the door, looking across the waste of 
sand. 

“Here I bring back the prodigal son,” said 
Herr Welley, cheerily; “he has not been away 


Lost on the Heath. 45 

so long as the one mentioned in the Scriptures, 
but I know that he will be received gladly.” 

“We have worried about him until we are 
almost sick, and his sisters have shed tears 
until they can weep no more,” replied Frau 
Holm. “My Hilbert and Otto have been out 
on the heath all day searching for him, and 
have not come back yet. It is poor thanks to 
us for doing the best that we could for them.” 

Guido flushed deeply at hearing these words, 
but he made no comment; he knew that they 
were true. 

“There come your husband and Otto, Frau 
Rachel,” said Herr Welley. “All is turning out 
better than we hoped.” 

Hilbert walked toward them with weary steps 
and sad countenance, which became illumined 
with joy when he saw Guido standing beside 
the schoolmaster, but quickly became clouded 
with displeasure. 

“Good evening, Herr Schoolmaster,” said 
he, without noticing Guido; “I would not will- 
ingly live this day over again ; instead, I would 
rather have it blotted from my memory.” 

“Oh, no!” replied Herr Welley, cheerfully, 


46 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

“ this day has been blessed to more than one 
human being. Neighbor Holm, you are like 
the shepherd from whom one sheep strayed, 
and he left the ninety, and nine to search for it, 
and when he found it he said to his friends, 
‘Kejoice with me, for I have found the sheep 
that was lost.’ ” 

But what grant have I that he will not run 
away again?” 

“I think you need have no fear of that ; this 
boy has been through a school to-day and 
gained an experience which he will not be 
likely to forget, and which could not have been 
gained in any other way. I think he will ask 
forgiveness for the anxiety he has given you, 
and I hope you will pardon his foolish act ; he 
has been punished enough.” 

Guido did what he had never before done, 
and what he would have thought impossible to 
do, he took Hilbert Holm’s hand in his and 
said: “Forgive me for giving you so much 
trouble.” 

“I will, I do,” replied Hilbert, “but what 
will the grandfather think of you ? ” 

Guido had thought of this, for he stood in 


Lost on the Heath, 


47 


awe of the grave and as he considered austere 
old man, and at that minute the door opened, 
and his sisters and the Holm children rushed 
out and surrounded him. 

Then they went into the cottage, taking Guido 
with them, while Hilbert, his wife, and Herr 
Welley remained outside, for a few minutes 
talking over the affair. 

No one had reminded Guido of his duty to 
the grandfather, but he appear d to know what 
would be expected of him, for he went directly 
to him and asked pardon for his offence. The 
old man gazed into his eyes, as though reading 
every thought in the mind of the boy, then 
pressed his hand without a word, and deeply 
chagrined Guido turned away. 

“ Did you ever see such a change in any one 
as in Guido ? ” said Pauline, in a low tone to 
Thekla, ‘‘the idea of his asking pardon of an 
old peasant. I never knew him to ask pardon 
of any one, and to commence with these people 
is too much; I would not think of humbling 
myself so.” 

The grandfather, like Herr Holm and his 
wife, welcomed the schoolmaster warmly, and 


48 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

gave him a cordial invitation to remain over 
night, "which he gladly accepted. 

‘‘A schoolmaster!” thought Pauline, “and 
with a leather apron, and hoop poles on his 
shoulder. It is too droll for anything, and 
would be of a piece with everything else if we 
have to go to school to him. I would like our 
teachers in Hamburg to stand beside him to 
let him see how teachers should look. The 
scholars would laugh in his face. What can 
such a poor-looking creature know ? At most 
he can only read and write ; he will not be able 
to teach me anything.” 

Guido and his sisters did not know until 
afterward that the fried eggs, new milk, and 
warm bread which graced the supper table, 
were in honor of the despised schoolmaster, 
and, strange to say, the viands which the sim- 
ple dwellers of the heath looked upon as luxu- 
ries were declined by Guido, in favor of the 
porridge with meat and potatoes which he had 
scorned the night before, his long fast having 
changed his opinion in several particulars. 

After the supper was over, while the others 
lingered at the table, the grandfather, whose 


Lost on the Heath. 


49 


chair had been carried back to his corner by 
Hilbert and Herr Welley, called Guido to him. 

“My son,” said he, taking his hand, “let an 
old man speak a little while with you. You 
have asked pardon for your error to-day and 
that is well, but does not your conscience tell 
you that something yet remains to be done?” 

Guido looked at him in surprise, then shook 
his head. 

“ Think, my boy, what would have been your 
fate if the shepherd’s dog, the shepherd, the 
wife of the stall-keeper, and Schoolmaster 
Welley had not cared for you. Suppose you 
had wandered about, lost upon the great heath, 
forced tg spend the night on the damp sand or 
rough weeds, and this to continue until you 
died from hunger and thirst! 

“Do you know who it was that cared for 
you, who saved you from this terrible death? 
It was the Father in heaven who neither slum- 
bers nor sleeps, without whose knowledge even 
a sparrow cannot fall to the ground. Thank 
and praise that great Being for his goodness 
to you. Praise him, for his mercy endureth 
forever.” 

4 


50 The School on Lunehurg Heath, 

When it grew time for evening prayers, Guido 
listened, with tears in his eyes, as the aged 
Holm thanked God that the family in the cot- 
tage and the parents far away were not suffer- 
ing the anguish which the loss of the boy would 
have occasioned. 

That day had been one of anxiety to all, and 
they retired early. Guido never felt happier 
in his life then when he lay down upon his 
straw bed with kind friends about him, and 
even the cows and sheep were not a cause for 
dissatisfaction when he called to mind Herr 
Welley’s opinion in regard to them. 

He did not fail to thank God for bringing 
him safely back, and resolved then and there 
to strive to be contented until such time as 
they could all meet again in their home in 
Hamburg. 


CHAPTEE Y. 


GRANDFATHER HOLM. 

I T was very late the next morning when Guido 
arose, foot-sore from his long tramp of the 
day before. He found the family engaged in 
their usual morning work, but Herr TVelley 
was gone. 

“I wish that I had seen him to thank him 
for his kindness to me,” said Guido to his sis- 
ters and to Frau Holm, who were feeding the 
chickens outside the door. 

‘‘Oh, he will soon be here; next week he 
commences school in our home, and you can 
thank him then ; ” and, having given out all the 
food, Frau Holm went into the cottage. 

“School in this hut! Now, that is a joke, 
indeed!” said Pauline to her sister. “It is 
enough to make any one laugh. School in a 
stable, and the teacher a cooper with a leather 
apron ! ” 

They were called in to breakfast, and a cup 
of new milk was set at the plate of each of the 


51 


52 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

Eckermeier children, into which they broke 
the dark bread. 

“What has to-day for ns, my children?” 
said Frau Holm, when breakfast was finished, 
and Hilbert Holm had gone back to his potato 
field. “We must do something for the good 
of ourselves or others.” 

“I don’t know,” said Pauhne, in a discour- 
aged tone; “there does not appear to be any- 
thing to do.” 

“Yesterday we were all in so much anxiety 
about Guido that we could not set our minds 
upon work ; to-day w^e must try to make up for 
lost time,” continued Frau Holm, cheerfully. 

“But the time seems so long here,” said 
Pauline. 

“But there is no need for it to seem long. 
Tell me, my child, how. did you employ your 
time in Hamburg?” 

“We had so many pleasant lessons and nice 
teachers that the time seemed too short for all 
we had to do. Besides our regular lessons, we 
had teachers in music, drawing, and painting ; 
and I took lessons in embroidery; and we had 
plenty of young friends, and enjoyed ourselves 
in every way.” 


Grandfather Holm, 


53 


“Good!” responded Frau Holm; “you can 
do tlie same here, and time will pass just as 
swiftly.” 

“Here! ” ejaculated Pauline, somewhat sar- 
castically. “ Where are the teachers for music 
and painting, and the silks for embroidery? 
There are no pleasant places to walk. This 
dreary old heath would not tempt any one.” 

“ If it is a teacher you want, we have an ex- 
cellent one in Herr Welley. He is a very bright 
man, and knows how to make children learn.” 

“Are we expected to go to school to this 
cooper with a leather apron, who carries hoop 
poles on his shoulder ? ” 

“Yes, to the man who, perhaps, saved your 
brother’s life. He is a good, kind. God-fearing 
man; and you cannot judge people by their 
clothes. Better a teacher in a leather apron 
than no teacher.” 

“But he cannot teach music, and, if he 
could, we have no instrument; and I cannot 
embroider, for I have neither teacher nor silk.” 

“Xo, you have no chance to improve in 
those studies ; but we have cows that you can 
learn to milk, flax and wool that you can learn 


54 The School on Lnnehurg Heath. 

to spin, linen that you can make into clothes' 
and yarn that you can knit into stockings.” 

“ I don’t know how to do these things, and 
it is of no use to learn ; they will never be of 
any use to me.” 

“You cannot know, child, what may be of 
use to you in this world ; therefore it is better 
to learn whatever comes in your way ; besides, 
you will be far happier when employed, so you 
must learn to milk, spin, sew, and knit.” 

“I!” cried Pauline, in angry surprise. 

“Yes, you. Your parents wished us to treat 
you exactly as we do our own children. They 
work, and it keeps them out of mischief, and 
it is better for their health. One w'ho will not 
work does not deserve food. We have no idle 
people among us. Your sister Thekla is help- 
ing Kathie carry the dead leaves and stalks 
from the garden. Come, child, I will give you 
something to do, and some time you will thank 
me for it.” 

“But my father gave Thomas a lot of money 
to pay for our keep ; he did not intend us to 
work like peasants.” 

“You are entirely mistaken, my child,” replied 


55 


Grandfather Holm, 

Frau Holm, serenely. “ The money was given 
to Thomas to keSp in safety for your father ; no- 
thing was said of its being used for you, there- 
fore we are not willing to touch a penny of it. 
We wish to give their children back to your 
parents strong and healthy, and for this end 
they must profit by their stay here in being 
happy and contented, that they may eat and 
sleep well. This they cannot do if the time is 
passed in idleness. Come now with me.” 

Guido had been set to work to brush and 
shake the suit of clothes that he had worn the 
day before, and Pauline was taken to the tiny 
bed-rooms and shown how to beat up the straw 
beds and arrange the bed-clothing upon them ; 
then to pare the potatoes for the dinner. 

The morning passed quickly, and even Pau- 
line was getting interested in the work, when 
Grandfather Holm called Guido to his chair, 
which Hilbert and his wife had carried outside, 
that the old man might have the benefit of the 
morning sun. 

“ Come here, my boy, and tell your sisters to 
come also, I have something to say to you.” 

“I wonder what I am to be scolded for 


56 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

now?” thought Guido; “something about my 
running away, I suppose.” 

But he obeyed, and not only his sisters, but 
little Susie, came and stood by. 

“My son,” said the old man, gently, “why 
did you go away from us yesterday? You 
must have had some reason, some objection to 
us, which we might remove if we knew what 
it was.” 

Guido reddened deeply, but made no reply. 

“Tell me, my son, I will not be put off with- 
out an answer.” 

“ I don’t like to be here ; I am not satisfied.” 

“ Then you are just like me. I am not satis- 
fied to sit in this chair year in and year out. 
Yet I am patient, because I know that being 
impatient will not help me any more than run- 
ning away will help you. I am seventy-six 
years old, and have not left this chair night nor 
day for six years. Oh, how happy I would be 
if I could run about like you; how glad I 
would be to work, no matter how hard and 
steadily. But I am so grateful that God is 
over all, and knows what is best for me; and 
has given me this good son, Hilbert, and his 


Grandfather Holm. 57 

wife to care for me. But the Herr School- 
master says you do not like our food.” 

‘‘ No, I don’t like the barley soup, and was 
never used to eating fat meat and black bread.” 

“ John the Baptist lived upon locusts and 
wild honey, and the children of Israel fed upon 
manna for many years, and in the ice-fields of 
Kussia the French soldiers, from the marshal 
down to the poorest private, fare much poorer 
than we. It is the best we can get, and we 
are truly grateful that we have enough. I 
know that you complain that we have no sofas 
and mirrors, and other things that you had in 
your Hamburg home ; but, my son, our Saviour 
when upon the earth had not a place to lay his 
head, yet he was God’s only Son, God who 
made this world and many other and greater 
worlds than ours. We did not know that 
Thomas was to bring you here, and if we had 
known we could not have done any better for 
you than we are doing. And now let us speak 
of something else.” 

‘‘ Dear grandfather, what made you lame ? ” 
inquired Thekla, “ did something strike you?” 

‘‘ Yes, and no,” replied the grandfather, smil- 


58 Th'e School on Lunebnrg Heath. 

ingly. “You can understand better if I first 
explain something to you. My child, the body 
of a human being is the greatest and most won- 
derful of all God’s wonderful and perfect work, 
and no one can imitate it successfully in wood, 
’ stone, or wax ; they may make an outward re- 
semblance, but they cannot put the breath of 
life in it, nor cause the blood to fiow in the 
veins. Our bodies have more than two hun- 
dred and forty bones, covered with flesh, which 
contains nerves, muscles, and veins. Within 
us are what are called the internal organs, 
which no man can imitate. Under the bones 
of the head we find the brains, which without 
this thick covering might be injured, causing 
death or insanity.” 

The children were deeply interested, and 
Guido put his hand on top of his head, as 
though to examine the thickness of his skull. 

“Below the forehead are the beautiful eyes 
set in two deep sockets to protect them from 
injury, aided by lashes which catch the parti- 
cles of dust that would cause great pain, and 
perhaps injure the sight.” 

“And so many different colors in eyes,” 


59 


Grandfather Holm, 

interposed Thekla, “mine and Pauline’s are 
blue, and Guido’s brown ; I never thought 
much about eyes, but now I see how beautiful 
Kathie’s are, so large, and dark, and clear.” 

“Yes, that is the one beauty of our chil- 
dren,” laughed the grandfather, “they all have 
fine eyes.” 

“ What comes next, grandfather ? ” 

“The ears and their wonderful mechanism. 
Who can copj^ them and give them the power 
of hearing, save the great and mighty God? 
And the nose, placed over the mouth, which, 
with its sense of smell, keeps us from eating 
what would injure us. And the strong, useful 
teeth that cut up our food, and make it easier 
for the gastric juice in the stomach to digest it, 
after being made easier to slip down the throat 
by saliva, which does its share to aid digestion.” 

“Mother always told us to chew our food 
well,” remarked Thekla. 

“That was wise. People are apt to eat too 
fast, which is not good for the health. In the 
throat is a passage for the air to and from the 
lungs, called the trachea, or windpipe. There 
is a little valve over it, which closes when the 


60 The School on Lunehurg Heath, 

food is passing over it ; but sometimes we are 
laughing or talking, and forget ourselves, and 
a crumb or a drop of water slips into the wind- 
pipe, and we are very uncomfortable until it is 
dislodged.” 

“Yes, I was nearly choked to death once,” 
said Guido; “I swallowed a piece of meat too 
quickly, and the nurse put my head down and 
thumped me between the shoulders, and it flew 
out.” 

“What else, grandfather?” asked Thekla. 

“ The heart is also a wonderful creation. In 
one hour it contracts and expands about four 
thousand ‘times, which is also the number of 
times the pulse beats. The blood in our veins, 
which is in the shape of tiny balls, runs into 
the heart, and passes out again. Again, all 
over the body are little white threads, called 
nerves, which are very sensitive. And now I 
will tell you the cause of my lameness.” 

All the children gathered closer about him, 
even Susie, who had heard the story many 
times. 

“ Six years ago my son Hilbert and myself 
were helping build a dyke on the shore of the 


Grandfather Holm, 


61 


Luke Kiver to keep it from overflowing its 
bounds. We had to drive down great piles, 
which required heavy strokes from the ham- 
mers, and I became overheated. While I was 
in a profuse perspiration, tho earth gave away, 
and I dropped into the ice-cold water up to 
my shoulders. The sudden checking of per- 
spiration caused paralysis in my limbs, and I 
have never been able to move them since that 
day. The nerves are dead, and I must sit in 
my chair.” 

The children stood looking at the old man, 
who was so pa^tient under his affliction, and 
they wondered how he could bear it so well. 

“How did you learn so much, grandfather, 
here on this Luneburg Heath?” inquired 
Thekla. 

“I am indebted to my helpless limbs for 
what knowledge I have,” replied he, cheerfully. 
“Truly, there is no cloud in the world without 
its silver lining.” 

“But I don’t understand how you could bear 
it,” said Pauline, curiosity getting the better of 
her pride, which, until then, had kept her from 
asking questions. 


62 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

“The time at first appeared very slow in 
passing. I had been used to an active life, had 
never been sick for a day, and was restless and 
miserable. My old hands could not knit, or 
sew, or spin ; and I am ashamed to say that I 
spent the early part of the time in bemoaning 
my hard lot. But, if we are not rebellious, or 
if we repent of our rebellion, God gives us a 
blessing in place of the one taken away. He 
put it into my power to learn much through 
books.” 

“What books, grandfather? ” inquired Guido. 

“First of all, his blessed word, the Bible, 
which I had never before taken time to study, 
but which I found to be a fountain of comfort, 
peace, and hope to me, and to all who will 
study it prayerfully. Besides it, I had the 
reading of other good books.” 

“I don’t see where they came from,” re- 
marked Pauline; “there are no book-stores on 
the heath like those we have in Hamburg.” 

“No, dear, I don’t know of any; but I sup- 
pose that there are libraries in the villages on 
the heath. But our pastor lent me books, and 
Herr Welley has been one of the best of friends 


Grandfather Holm, ' 63 

and lent me instructive books from his really 
good library. I read aloud to the family, or in 
the evenings, when sitting by our peat fire, I 
told them what I had read during the day ; and 
in this way they are better informed than most 
of the heath- dwellers ; and God made my afflic- 
tion a blessing in disguise.” 

“ Kathie says you taught them all to write,” 
said Thekla. 

“Yes, dear. What a wonderful thing it is 
to be able to send our thoughts thousands of 
miles by the help of pen, ink, and paper! Just 
as your father wishes spices from India, coffee 
from the West Indies, fish from the arctic re- 
gions, or grain from the Crimea, he puts a few 
written words upon paper and sends it off, and 
as soon as possible the articles are there, just 
the same as if he had travelled all those long 
distances for them.” 

“ Oh 1 if father and mother would but write ! 
It seems so long to wait,” said Pauline, her 
eyes filling with tears. 

“That will come all in good time, dear,” 
said the old man, cheerfully; “they will speak 
to you across our Luneburg Heath, and you can 


64 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

rejoice that you can understand what the tip of 
a pen has put on paper for you. And I must 
tell you what an American negro did who car- 
ried a letter for his master.” 

“ Oh, yes ; tell it again, grandfather,” said 
Susie, eagerly. 

‘‘ I will tell you, for it is a true story, and 
it will prove to you the disadvantage of being 
ignorant : In one of the most southern of the 
states of North America there lived a planter 
who had cultivated a rare kind of cherry, and 
was very- proud of his success, and waited for 
them to ripen that he might send a sample to 
a great friend of his on a neighboring planta- 
tion. 

‘‘At length they were in fine condition, and 
he filled a small basket and gave it to a small 
negro servant to take to his friend, and with 
it a note mentioning the number of cherries 
sent.” 

“ ‘Now, Sambo,’ said he, ‘this note tells how 
many cherries are in the basket, and if you eat 
even one he will know it and will let me know 
it, and you will be punished for your dis- 
honesty.’ 


Grandfather Holm. 


65 


‘‘The boy walked some distance, then sat 
down and opened the basket, and, like mother 
Eve, tasted one of the cherries. 

“ ‘This piece of paper can’t talk, it can’t hear 
nor see, and it don’t breathe; how can it tell 
that I ate the cherry? He only told me that 
to keep me from them.* 

“ So he ate all the cherries and hid the basket, 
then he walked on and gave the gentleman the 
note. 

“‘Where are the cherries my friend sent?’ 
he inquired. 

“ ‘ Cherries ! he did not send any.* 

“ ‘ But this letter says he did ; * so he sat down 
and wrote a reply, and sent it by the boy. 

“ ‘ What did he say of the cherries ? * said his 
master, before reading the notCo 

“ ‘ He said they were nice ; they tasted sweet 
and good.* 

“ ‘ You are a thief ! * exclaimed his master, 
‘ this note says that you brought no cherries ; * 
so he had him punished, not only for his dis- 
honesty, but for falsehood. 

“Another basket of cherries was sent and a 
note, both intrusted to the same boy, the master 
5 


66 The, School on Luneburg Heath. 

thinking that the punishment he had received 
would keep him from committing the offence 
again. 

‘‘ But the negro was not proof against temp- 
tation, but placing the letter under a stone he 
said: ‘You saw me eat the cherries yesterday, 
now I will put you where you can’t see me.’ 
Then he ate the cherries, took up the letter and 
went on his way, receiving a letter in return, 
which he gave to his master, and was aston- 
ished that he was again punished for theft. 

“ The next morning another basket of cherries 
was sent, the planter thinking that two pun- 
ishments would surely keep him honest, but the 
poor ignorant boy believed that there was a 
spirit in the letter which must be killed, so he 
tore it in little pieces, ate the cherries, went 
home, and was again punished. 

“ I have told you this story, my children, to 
make you remember that there is a spirit in 
every letter, though not of the kind believed in 
by the poor ignorant boy, but none the less a 
spirit of good or of evil. Therefore let the let- 
ters that go from your hand contain the spirit 
of peace, and love, and charity, and helpful-^ 


67 


Grandfather Holm, 

ness, for one knows not how long these letters 
may remain upon earth, nor into whose hands 
they may fall, using their influence for good or 
evil, according to the nature of the spirit within 
them.” 


CHAPTEE YL 
LEARNING TO WORK. 

T he snn by this time bad risen higher, and 
was beaming with uncomfortable warmth 
upon the helpless man. 

“ My son is so busy in the field that he has 
forgotten that my chair is outside, instead of in 
the chimney-corner ; I am afraid the sun will 
make me sick.” 

“ I am sure I can carry your chair in, grand- 
father ; let me try,” said Frau Holm, who had 
overheard the words. 

“No, no, you shall not attempt it, better let 
me endure for a little while than have your 
back sprained, and perhaps be made as help- 
less as I.” 

“We will help, grandfather,” said Pauline, 
“ Guido and I will take one arm of your chair 
and Frau Holm the other, and I am sure we 
can set you safely by the hearth.” 

But they were spared this exertion to which 
the grandfather might have been brought to 
68 


69 


Learning to Work, 

consenr, for at that moment Hilbert Holm came 
running from the distant field. 

forgot you, grandfather, and am heartily 
ashamed of myself,” said he, ‘‘if the sun had 
not given me a strong hint I am afraid I would 
not have come in until called to dinner.” 

“ Don’t think of it, my son, I am only sorry 
that you had to come all the way to take me in. 
These dear people offered, and I am afraid I 
would have been selfish enough to have been 
persuaded to let them try to lift me and my 
chair.” 

He was soon placed in the shade by the 
hearth, and breathed a sigh of relief at the 
pleasant change, while Hilbert went back to 
the field. 

“Oh, my children, what a great blessing it is 
to have the use of one’s limbs,” said he, in 
trembling voice. “Do not neglect to give 
thanks to God for his mercy in giving you 
good health. Without it one cannot work to 
earn his support, nor do anything to help him- 
self or others when in danger. If my little 
Susie’s dress were to take fire I could not help 
her, if but two yards away. She would have 


70 The School on Luneburg Heath, 

to burn to death if there were no one to help* 
If lightning struck our cottage and set it on 
fire, I should lose my hfe if no one was near to 
rescue me. I do not say these things in com- 
plaint against God’s dealings with me, all he 
does is just and right, and perfect, but only to 
make you give thanks for the great blessing of 
health.” 

After a time dinner was ready, and Hilbert 
came in from the field. “ I am tired,” said he, 
mopping his face with his shirt sleeve, ‘‘ but it 
is such a . joy to have one’s own field to work 
in, and one’s own cottage to rest in when work 
for the day is done.” 

‘‘And when our children grow older we can 
take in more land,” said Frau Holm, brightly, 
“and all can have enough to do.” 

When Hilbert started again for the field 
Guido asked to go with him, and was surprised 
to find it like an oasis in the desert. It was 
moor land made rich by what fertilizer Hilbert 
could command. Potato vines were growing 
luxuriantly, and all his grain and vegetables 
looked promising. 

Hilbert’s eyes brightened when he heard 


71 


Learning to Work. 

Guido’s expressions of surprise, and he pro- 
ceeded with his work, which was grubbing out 
roots with a pickaxe. 

‘‘What are you doing that for?” inquired 
the boy. 

Hilbert stopped long enough to answer, “ I 
am making moor land ready for planting in 
grain. I grub all around a place I intend for 
a field, then set the dried heather on fire. 
This upturned earth will prevent it from 
spreading and setting fire to the heath, which 
might do much damage. Fire, you know, is a 
good servant, but a bad master.” 

“It must cost you a lot of work and time? ” 

“ Yes, but with patience I will succeed ; if I 
only grub a place the size of our table in one 
day it will be a good deal in six months. ‘ Con- 
stant dripping will wear away a stone^ is an 
old and true proverb. Maybe you will help 
me in this work, Guido ? ” 

The boy was about to decline when another 
proverb came into his mind, “He who will not 
work should not eat,” and he concluded to ac- 
cept the proposal. Since he had heard that 
the money given to Thomas by his father was 


72 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

not specified as being for the support of him- 
self and sisters, but that they were really guests 
of these Luneburg peasants, his pride was some- 
what diminished, and his respect for them 
increased. 

** AYhat shall I do ? ” inquired he. 

“You can put these roots in a heap, and the 
dry heather in a pile by itself. In the evening 
we will carry it to the stalls for bedding for the 
cows and sheep. This work will give you a 
good appetite for supper, and you will sleep 
sweetly on your straw bed.” 

Guido went to work, Hilbert watching that 
he did not overtax his strength, and at the end 
of half an hour advised him to sit down and 
rest. 

“You must humor your strength until you 
get accustomed to work,” said he. “ By exer- 
tion sufficient for wholesome exercise, your 
muscles will become strengthened, and what 
you now look upon as labor, will be only play.” 

They worked until sunset, and when they 
returned to the cottage Pauline ran out to meet 
them. 

“Just think!” she exclaimed, “I can spin a 
thread! Frau Holm has taught me.” 


73 


Learning to Work. 

“And I have commenced knitting a stock- 
ing,’* said Thekla, from the door, “and Frau 
Holm says I do very well for a beginner.” 

“There come Otto and Kathie from school, 
and driving the sheep home ; now we will see 
them lick salt.” 

“ It is well that they have some luxury,” re- 
marked Guido; “I would not mind having 
something extra myself ; apple pie, for in- 
stance.” 

“ I will take a raspberry tart, if you please, 
with plenty of cream and sugar,” laughed 
Thekla. 

“ Give me a slice of roast veal with dressing, 
and a dish of asparagus with egg sauce,” said 
Pauline. 

“It makes my mouth water to think of those 
things,” said Guido. “ That work of piling up 
brush has made me have an appetite like a 
cannibal’s.” 

“The barley soup is ready, children; come 
in to supper,” said the pleasant voice of Frau 
Holm, from the door. 

“ I thought yesterday, when I was half-starved 
on the heath, that even barley soup would taste 


74 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

good, but have changed inj mind,” said Guido, 
in a low tone. 

But it is the best that they have, and you 
know that we are not paying them anything,” 
replied wise little Thekla. 

AVhen the Eckermeier children took their 
seats at the table, they found a boiled egg and 
a cup of new milk at each plate, which, with 
the warm rye bread and the barley soup with 
potatoes in it, made a better meal than they 
had expected, and it was enjoyed accordingly. 

Before they retired the grandfather read the 
parable of the prodigal son, but made no com- 
ment upon it, not wishing Guido to be embar- 
rassed by too much emphasis being put upon 
his escapade of the previous day ; then all went 
to rest, and Guido dropped asleep as soon as 
his head was upon the pillow, and he knew 
nothing more until the sun shone in at the one 
window of the cottage. 

Two more days passed, and then came Sun- 
day. With the exception of attending to the 
stock, no work was done on that day, the sim- 
ple fare for the family having been prepared 
the evening before. 


Learning to Work. 


75 


After morning prayers, tlie reading of Scrip- 
ture, and their morning hymn, the parents and 
Otto set out upon the four miles’ walk across 
the heath to church ; and the Eckermeier chil- 
dren looked with much curiosity upon their 
costumes. Frau Holni wore a green plaid 
dress of the simplest style of make, and over 
it a long and wide blue apron, and upon her 
head a cap of snow-white muslin tied with a 
black band under her chin. Hilbert wore a 
home-made suit, of the natural color of the 
wool ; and Otto was a miniature likeness of his 
father in appearance and costume. They were 
as clean as soap and water could make them ; 
and those who remained at home were dressed 
in their holiday suits, in honor of the blessed 
Sabbath. 

Although Guido had taken but little interest 
in the heath or its people, he felt a desire to 
accompany them to church ; and, when he saw 
Hilbert and his wife making ready to go, he 
asked permission to be one of the group. 

“Not to-day, my son. It is a long way from 
here to the church, and we cannot as yet gauge 
your strength. The school this week is only 


76 The School on Lunehurg Heath, 

half so far, but we were afraid that it would 
overtax yourself and your sisters, so we did 
not ask you to go with our children. After you 
have lived upon the heath for some time, and 
have taken plenty of exercise, you can go to 
church; and this week school will be kept in 
our cottage, which will be a great blessing to 
us all.” 

All the children who remained at home looked 
longingly after the church-goers until they dis- 
appeared from sight; then Kathie and Susie 
returned to their grandfather and to the babe 
Rebecca. 

“I will stay out here,” said Pauline; “I can- 
not endure the odor of the cottage this lovely 
morning. Oh ! if we had something to look at 
instead of this dreary heath! How beautiful 
Hamburg is looking to-day! I would be satis- 
fied to stand by the windows in our home and 
look out, if we were only there. And the hand- 
some churches close by, and the richly* dressed 
people! Just think of Herr Holm and his 
wife — no style, no fashion ! And then the Sun- 
day dinner! I see no sign of a roast, or even 
of a stew, and dessert never enters their minds. 


Learning to Work. 


77 


I suppose that we will have barley soup, or fat 
meat and oat-meal porridge. No one would 
ever know that it was Sunday here, no church- 
bells, no ” 

Her monologue was interrupted at this point 
by Susie coming to tell them that her grand- 
father was waiting for them to come into the 
cottage. Thekla obeyed immediately, while 
Guido and Pauline followed with slow steps 
and dissatisfied countenances. 

“What does he want us to come into that 
dark, smoky old place for?” asked Pauline. 

“We might as well be in there, for all that 
we can see out here,” quoth her brother. 


CHAPTEE VIL 


A VISIT TO NEIGHBOR FUHRMANNS. 

S tlie Eckermeier children closed the door, 



they stopped in surprise at the change 
within. Before going to church, Hilbert had 
dressed his father in his holiday suit, and, with 
his long white hair parted in the middle and 
falling upon his shoulders, he reminded the 
children of the picture of the great Lawgiver 
Moses, in their Bible at home. The large table 
was drawn to his side, and was covered with a 
snow-white linen cloth, and near his hand was 
the open Bible from which he had read for so 
many years. His chair-back was covered with 
a white cloth, and upon the table were two 
bright candlesticks holding lighted candles. 
On each side were benches, and, at a nod from 
the old man, the children took seats. 

“My dear children,” said he, “it would have 
been a pleasure to all of us to have gone to 
church to-day. The sound of the organ would 
have been sweet to our ears ; but God does not 


78 


A Visit to Neighbor Fuhrmanhs. 79 

alone dwell in temples made with hands ; and, 
gladly as we would have listened to the words 
from his servant there, we can here remember 
his words, ‘Where two or three are gathered 
together in my name, there am I in the midst 
of them.’ He will come in and sup with us if 
we will invite him; so fold your hands while 
we pray.” 

The children could not help being impressed 
by these simple words, coming so truly from 
the heart ; and even Pauline felt that there was 
something in true piety worthy of her respect, 
and she listened attentively to the aged peas- 
ant, upon whom she had been inclined to look 
down because of his want of knowledge of the 
ways of Hamburg life. 

After the prayer he read the passage from 
the Gospel of Saint Luke in which the twelve- 
year-old Jesus was in the temple, and he told 
them beautiful incidents in the life of the Sa- 
viour ; then he spoke of the Sabbath, and how 
it should be honored: “Do not imagine, my 
children, that you are doing God a service by 
going to church to hear a sermon and the 
prayers. The Almighty God is perfect, and 


80 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

does not need our help ; but you do yourselves 
a service when you go to give thanks and praise 
to him for his goodness to you, and to ask his 
help for your further advancement in the know- 
ledge of his kingdom. Therefore a person does 
injury to himself, and does not set a good ex- 
ample to others, who remains away from God’s 
house when able to go. Now we will sing a 
hymn.” 

This part of the service was particularly 
pleasing to the Eckermeier children, and the 
old man listened, with tears of pleasure in his 
eyes, to the clear voices, which had been sub- 
jected to some training. 

As soon as the little service was finished, the 
children went out into the sunlight, at his re- 
quest, but the old man remained by the table, 
which he would not allow the children to tax 
their strength to push back to its place. 

“ Poor grandfather ! ” said Thekla, “ how 
dreary it must be for him in that dark room, 
now that the candles are not burning ! I won- 
der what he thinks of.” 

“ He knows whole chapters of the Bible, and 
says them over to himself. He is never lonely ; 


A. Visit to Neighbor F a hrmann's. 81 

but mother always tells us to go in to see if he 
needs anything,” said Susie. 

At length they saw the father and mother 
and Otto coming, and all ran to meet them and 
to conduct them into the cottage. 

‘‘The Herr Schoolmaster sent you a kind 
greeting, dear grandfather, and will commence 
teaching here to-morrow morning,” said Frau 
Holm. 

“How glad I am!” answered the old man, 
brightly; “he is such helpful, good company.” 

“But how can he leave the place where he 
is now, in order to come here to teach?” in- 
quired Guido. 

“We have no school-houses within many 
miles of us, and school is kept for a week at a 
time in different cottages on the heath, and the 
children must go where the school is.” 

“That is a queer way of going to school,” 
commented Guido. 

“ It is queerer for the teacher, and is on the 
principle of carrying a torch from house to 
house to light the fire,” rejoined Pauline. 

“ It is the best that we can do,” replied Herr 
Hilbert, mildly. “The schools in Hamburg 
6 


82 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

are, of course, conducted upon a different and 
a better plan ; but we are glad to have one of 
any kind. Did you ever read Itohinson Cru- 
soe H 

“Yes, indeed! I think I have read it a dozen 
times,” said Guido. 

“I, too, have read it, and I remember how 
glad Robinson was to see a human being upon 
the island, though the man was a savage, and 
could not speak a word that Robinson could 
understand. So do we rejoice that we have a 
school, though it is a moving one, and the chil- 
dren have to walk miles to attend it. Every 
subject has two sides, and one pleasant side to 
this is, that we elderly people are cheered by 
seeing the teacher and the children. We gain 
knowledge from him, and we see for ourselves 
what a trying, anxious life he lives, and we 
try to make it as pleasant as we can while he is 
with us. Another advantage is, that the poor- 
est and most abject of the* heath-dwellers re- 
frain from bad words, and keep their cottages 
as clean as possible during the week the school 
is there. So you see that there is no evil with- 
. out its compensating good.” 


A Visit to Neighbor Fahrmanru s. 83 

Hilbert moved tlie table back to its usual 
place, and Katbie lielped her mother prepare 
the dinner, while the Eckermeier children went 
outside to wait until called. 

‘‘It will be a beautiful school!” remarked 
Pauline ; “ a cooper for a teacher, and ‘ a-b-ab ’ 
scholars, which we must sit among! It makes 
me sick to think of it.” 

“I suppose, if we don’t pay attention, we 
will be whipped with hoop poles,” laughed 
Guido. 

“If he dares to correct me, I will run away,” 
rejoined his sister, proudly. 

“And get lost upon the heath, as I did. I 
shudder when I think how terrible it was to 
suffer for something to eat and for water to 
drink.” 

“If we dressed as we did in Hamburg, no 
peasant schoolmaster would dare to correct us; 
but with these old-fashioned clothes we will be 
treated like the others,” said Pauline. 

“If father and mother were here, I would 
not care what we wore or what we ate,” re- 
marked Thekla. 

They were called in to dinner, and, to their 


84 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

surprise, they found a large cake made of eggs 
and milk in the centre of the table, a pitcher 
of rich milk, and plate of cheese, with white 
bread, and butter. 

“If we were with Crusoe on his island, we 
would rejoice over this good food,’.’ said Hil- 
bert, cheerfully; “we peasants should rejoice 
and give thanks to our Heavenly Father for 
his good gifts.” 

The Eckermeier children were well satisfied 
with the meal, and they began to take a more 
cheerful view of life upon Luneburg Heath. 

“Children,” said Hilbert, “the schoolmaster 
is to come this evening, and if you care to take 
a long walk, you may go and accompany him 
hither.” 

“This proposition was gladly accepted, and 
in a few minutes they were walking across the 
heath to the cottage of Herr Fuhrmann, two 
miles away. 

The Eckermeier children could not but won^ 
der upon seeing the certainty with which the 
Holm children threaded their way over the 
heath, as there seemed to be nothing to mark 
the way, except patches of moss, or a flock of 
sheep here and there. 


A Yisit to Neighbor Nihrmanhs. 85 

They passed a miserable hut with a broken 
door, and the straw roof had sunk in several 
places. On a bench outside sat two miserably 
ragged children, their pinched faces proving 
that they had not sufficient to eat. 

“How can people live in such a place?” said 
Guido, “a dog kennel in Hamburg is better 
than this.” 

“Don’t speak so loud,” cautioned Otto, “if 
the father of the children should hear you, he 
would knock you down and beat you. His 
name is Trimm, and he is a terrible man when 
drinking, and steals like a raven when he is 
sober. His wife died of grief and because she 
had not enough to eat. People have to look 
out for themselves, if they make Trimm angry, 
he would as lief kill them as not.” 

“Are the children coming to school at your 
house ? ” inquired Pauline ; “ if they come I 
will not sit near them.” 

“Their father won’t let them go to school. 
Herr Welley has plead with him, and offered to 
teach them for nothing.” 

“Well, that is one comfort,” said Pauline, 
with a sigh of relief. 


86 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

In half an hour from passing Trimm’s they 
reached the cottage where Herr Welley had 
been teaching the past week. It was rather 
better than that of Gilbert Holm, although, 
like it, contained but one large room ; the cow 
and sheep stalls occupying one end of it, 
and a rough table and benches being the only 
furniture. 

“Did you come to’be company for me across 
the heath ? ” inquired the schoolmaster, cheer- 
fully; “now that was good in you and your 
parents. Come in! come in! The dear chil- 
dren here were to go part of the way with me, 
and help me carry my few books, now they 
need not go.” 

“ So, we are to be pack-horses for this 
cooper schoolmaster ! ” said Pauline, in a low 
tone, to her brother, as they followed him in. 

“We must either conquer the wolves or howl 
with them,” laughed Guido; “I think I will 
howl, as one good turn deserves another, and 
he brought me out of the heath. At most we 
will have only an old book to carry.” 

The peasant farmer and his wife and chil- 
dren welcomed them warmly; gave them the 


A Vtsii to NeigKbor Fuhrmann's. 87 

best seats, and bade them get well rested. 
Then Frau Fuhrmann gave each a slice of 
white bread thickly spread with honey, and 
glasses of milk, all of such good quality that 
even Pauline appreciated the lunch, as well as 
the kindness. 

‘‘ I must not leave until I have had a drink ' 
of this excellent water,” said Herr Welley, ‘‘it 
is worth more than its weight in gold.” 

He took an earthen pitcher, and going to 
the bubbling spring filled it to the brim. 

“Who will have a drink of this precious 
water ? ” he asked as he came in, and all the 
guests were so thirsty and so charmed with the 
cool, sweet water that they drained the pitcher 
and Herr Welley had to go for more. It was 
so refreshing that even Pauline had overcome 
her repugnance to drinking from the pitcher, 
something which would have been looked 
upon as an offence against all rules of pro- 
priety in Hamburg; for the water at the 
Holm cottage was far from good, and the 
Eckermeier children, who had been accus- 
tomed to tea and coffee, found it one of their 
great hardships to be compelled to drink it. 


88 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

When it came time to go, each one carried 
a book without considering it a burden, they 
felt so refreshed by the visit. 

‘‘Yes, I have several books, one for each 
one of you to carry,” Herr Welley had said, in 
his cheery way. “I am much richer than 
Diogenes, who had but his tub. Besides, 
there are many great generals who have not 
so many aids as I, who can boast of six. 
Well, the caravan is ready to travel across 
the desert; we will bid good-bye to these 
dear people who have been so kind to us, and 
then march.” 

The Fuhrmanns were really sorry to part 
from the genial, intelligent man ; his coming 
was always an event in their quiet life, and 
his companionship of advantage to themselves 
as well as to their children. 

The sun was setting when they left the cot- 
tage, and the great heath stretched out before 
them silent and deserted, and seemed to the 
Eckermeier children to reach the edge of the 
world in every direction. 

, But the tedium of the way was lessened by 
the schoolmaster, who told them incidents 


A Visit to Neiglibor FuJirmanvH s. 89 

which had come under his own knowledge, 
mingling wise counsel and instruction in all 
his narratives ; but as they came near the hut 
of Trimm his kind face became overshadowed. 
He could not pass it without going in to say a 
word to the miserable inmates, while the chil- 
dren remained outside. 

“My words had no effect,” said he, upon 
returning, looking sadder than before, “ I never 
pass without stopping to talk with him and try 
to persuade him to let the poor children come 
to school, but so far it has been of no use. I 
can only pray God to turn him from the evil of 
his way, that he may become a man instead of 
the worse than animal he is.” 

When they reached the Holm cottage all 
were in a cheerful mood, for no one could be 
in the society of Herr Welley without being 
benefited; and after their frugal supper, and 
the grandfather had offered the evening prayer, 
the children went to rest, the Eckermeiers al- 
most forgetting that their beds were of straw. 


CHAPTER YIII. 

THE FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL. 


HE next morning Guido was wakened by 



A a brisk hammering near his bed, and when 
he came from his corner into the main room he 
saw that piles were driven through the crevices 
of the stone flooring, upon which were nailed 
boards for desks and seats for the expected 
pupils. The work was finished by the time the 
children were dressed and ready for breakfast. 

As it was more than an hour before the pu- 
pils would come, Herr Welley put hoops on 
a bucket, and made a stand for it to set upon 
for the use of the school. Then the cooper 
became a schoolmaster, as the children came 
singly and in groups, boys and girls from six 
to fourteen years of age. Each of the older 
boys bore upon his shoulder a pick or a shovel, 
which procedure caused wonderment in the 
minds of the Eckermeier children. 

“Did you ever see such things brought to 
school? ” remarked Pauline to Guido. 


90 


91 


The First Day at School, 

‘‘ Never ; and yet no one seems surprised.” 

The pupils were healthy, bright-eyed young 
people, and there were a great hand-shaking 
all around, and greetings with each other and 
the Holm family, all making it a point to speak 
first to grandfather, and give him a message 
from their parents. 

Before taking their places Herr Welley cast 
his eyes upon each one, to note if their hands 
and faces were clean and hair neatly brushed. 
The children bore the test well, only one boy 
being sent to the brook to wash, then the 
schoolmaster appointed a seat for each. 

Pauline colored with anxiety when she found 
herself placed among the oldest pupils, and 
feared the schoolmaster thought her further 
advanced than she was; yet was ashamed of 
the company with whom she was to associate. 

‘‘Oh, if the scholars at Hamburg could see 
us now, how they would make fun of us ; they 
never saw such people,” thought Pauline, as 
she looked about her. 

“Sit down, child,” said Grandfather Holm, 
whose chair happened to be near where she 
stood. 


92 


The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

She looked round, for a moment inclined to 
disobey, but seeing that he meant what he said, 
she took the seat, rebelling against the whole 
affair; while Guido and Thekla, having taken 
their seats when the others did, were waiting 
to see what was next to be done. 

Herr Welley rapped upon the table to call 
attention, all arose and joined in the morning 
hymn, led by him in a good, though uncul- 
tured voice. To Grandfather Holm nothing was 
wanting to render it beautiful, and with tears in 
his eyes he thought of the infant Jesus in the 
stable, to whose praise they were now singing. 

The beams of the sun came through the open- 
ing in the roof directly over the table, making 
the cottage bright and almost cheery. A short, 
earnest prayer followed the singing, and the 
children took their places. 

“I will, as usual, toll you a little story, which 
maybe called a fable,'’ said he, “ and afterward 
give you the application.” 

The children looked at each other and nodded 
their pleasure at hearing this, then settled them- 
selves to listen. 

“There was once a man who was on the sea 


93 


The First Day at School, 

in a vessel when there came up a great storm. 
The ship was thrown upon the rocks and dashed 
to pieces. Only this man was saved, and when 
he came to his senses he found he was upon an 
island which seemed barren and deserted. Af- 
ter a time, feeling hunger and thirst, he arose 
and walked toward the centre of the island, 
and to his great surprise saw people who 
shouted, ‘ Here is our king ! here is our king ! ’ 
He was too astonished to speak, for they took 
him to a palace, put a handsome robe upon 
him and a crown upon his head. Then they 
placed rich food before him, of which he ate 
heartily, then slept for many hours. When 
he awoke he found that people had come from 
all parts of the island to see their new king, so 
it was not a dream. 

“‘The people have made a great mistake,’ 
thought he, ‘they will find that I am not their 
king and I will be cast back into the sea.’ 

“He sent for the prime minister and said, 
‘ You have erred ; I am but a poor shipwrecked 
traveller, who was cast upon your island.’ 

“‘No, my king,’ said the old man, ‘you are 
placed just where God intended you should be. 


94 The School on Lmiehurg Heath, 

You are our king. One is chosen every year, 
and reigns but twelve months.” 

‘ When the year is out, what will become of 
me? ’ 

“‘Your crown and robe will be taken from 
you and jDlaced upon another, who will be our 
king.’ 

“‘But if I rule wisely, and do all I can to 
promote the good of the people, what then ? ’ 

“ ‘ The result will be the same, you must give 
place to another.’ 

“ ‘ But in case I make the desert blossom 
like the rose ? It is now a dreary waste ; why 
did not former kings improve their time by im- 
proving the island ? ’ 

“ They said their reign was too short for 
making the attempt to better its condition.” 

“ ‘ How, then, did they pass their time ? ’ 

‘ Some of them in useless complaining that 
there was no time to do anything ; others in a 
round of pleasure, because it would so soon be 
bver; but when the time came for them to be 
dethroned, all lamented that they had accom- 
plished no good during the year. 

“ ‘ It shall not be so with me,’ said their new 


95 


The First Day at School. 

king ; ‘ no, though I am to reign but one year, 

I will employ every minute of it that I can in 
bettering the island and the people.’ 

“He set all the idlers to work building dwell- 
ings, laying out streets, planting fruit trees and 
gardens ; in short, he made -all the improve- 
ments possible in that one year ; all the people ^ 
were healthier and happier for being employ- 
ed, and the island was growing beautiful and 
fruitful. With perfect serenity he saw the time 
draw near when he must lay aside crown and 
sceptre, the day upon which former kings had 
looked with dismay ; but he was as active as 
ever planning for the good of others. 

“ When the day came for him to retire, in- 
stead of returning to his poverty and his ship- 
wrecked condition, he was met by a new set of 
attendants, who conducted him to a larger and 
better island, where he reigned, because found 
so worthy. 

“Now, children, I will tell you the applica- 
tion of this fable : The shipwrecked traveller is 
the boy or girl who is just starting out in life. 
Pleasures invite him, but he knows that his 
time is short ; he must improve the desert island 


96 The School on Lunehurg Heath, 

of his mind. His helpers, who are preparing 
him for his work, are the warnings of his con- 
science, which if he will obey, his time will be 
passed with benefit to himself and others, and 
he will be fitting himself for a better land. 
Now, Hans Becker, what good will you take 
from this fable ? ” 

“I will obey you, Herr Schoolmaster, and 
will study and learn all I can.” 

“And you, Annamarie Blumenfield?” 

“I will study here, and will work at home to 
help mother.” 

“And you, little Barbel?” 

“I will study as well as I can, and will ask 
mother to let me give Christie Trimm a dress I 
have outgrown.” 

And so each child named a good deed that 
he or she meant to do in order to cultivate the 
desert island of the heart; and then the school- 
master turned to Kathie Holm : 

“What will you do, Kathie, in order to cul- 
tivate the barren desert ? ” 

“ Grandfather says that we must walk in the 
footsteps of Jesus,” she replied. 

“Your grandfather is right. Since Jesus 


97 


The First Day at School, 

came upon earth, no island of our hearts need 
be a desert, for he has pointed out the way to 
make it fruitful. All that we have to do is to 
believe in him and to obey his teachings.” 

This part of the exercises over, they read, 
wrote, and reckoned ; and the Eckermeier chil- 
dren were astonished at the intelligence of the 
peasant children. Little Barbel read a poem 
with so much expression that Pauline was 
ashamed to read after her ; and Hans reckoned 
a question in his mind quicker than did Guido 
with slate and pencil. 

Herr Welley gave questions not in the book, 
and there was no dullness anyw^here, the teacher 
wishing to quicken the children’s wits by unex- 
pected turns hidden in the examples given. 

‘‘My little Thekla, suppose seven sparrows 
are on a roof, and the farmer shoots two, how 
many would remain ? ” 

“ That is not hard to answer,” replied Thekla ; 
“there would be five.” 

“Is your sister right?” he inquired of Paul- 
ine and Guido. 

“Certainly; five would be on the roof.” 

“All who know better will raise their hands.” 


7 


98 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

Every hand went np instantly. 

Two from seven does leave five,” said Paul- 
ine, angrily, the blood rushing to her face. 

“ What do you think ? Explain this to them,” 
said Herr Welley to Susie. 

There would none remain, because the five 
would fly away when they heard the noise.” 

‘‘ Oh, of course ; if you take it in that way, it 
is another question,” said Guido, flushing like 
his sister. 

“You will not forget it, at all events, and that 
is the main thing,” replied the schoolmaster, 
serenely, as he took up a piece of chalk and 
wrote upon the blackboard the words : “ For 
work not, for idleness are we placed here.” 

“This sentence is deprived of its right mean- 
ing, owing to a little black mark. Who will set 
it in its proper place ? ” 

The pupils all looked at it ; and it was not 
one of the Eckermeier children, but a poorly- 
clothed little girl, who removed the comma 
from after the word “not,” and placed it after 
the word “ work.” 

“Just see what a change in the meaning is 
due to that little mark. Now I will write some- 


99 


The First Day at School. 

thing else, and see who will be the first to 
change the punctuation so as to make sense of 
what is nonsense : ‘ Once wrote a man, upon a 
wall I have ten fingers, on each hand have five 
and twenty, on hands and feet.’ Make it right.” 

This w'ay of teaching was highly enjoyed by 
the children, and eleven o’clock came before 
they knew it ; whereupon the schoolmaster ac- 
companied their singing of a hymn with the 
soft tones of his flute. 

“Singing strengthens the lungs, and keeps 
us from evil,” he remarked, when it was fin- 
ished. “ When men are engaged in theft or in 
other evil deeds they don’t sing hymns.” 

The three school hours being over, the large 
boys and girls left the cottage, taking shovels 
and picks, and the smaller ones stayed and 
helped Frau Holm to pare potatoes and to get 
other things ready for the huge pot of porridge 
which was to be the main part of the dinner. 

Hilbert and Herr Welley gave the band of 
workers their work. Some carried brush to be 
burned ; others carried dry heather to the stalls 
for bedding ; ^nie swept the ground all about 
the cottage with bunches of brush; and the 


100 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

larger ones grubbed with the picks, breaking 
up new ground for cultivation. 

No one shirked duty, and at the end of the 
hour all were called in to dinner, when Frau 
Holm’s porridge with dumplings disappeared 
like frost in the rays of the sun. Everybody 
was allowed to talk, and there was no lack of 
jest and anecdote, Grandfather Holm adding 
his share to the general fund, for cheerfulness 
was, in his eyes, a virtue, and innocent gaiety 
was not to be condemned. 

After dinner the children played for an hour 
about the door of the cottage, then went back 
to their lessons with the promise of a walk in 
Frau Holm’s garden during the afternoon. 

No park could afford more pleasure to a 
princess than did this simple patch of earth 
to these peasant children. Violets lifted their 
modest heads ; goldenlocks, red and white gilli- 
flowers, mountain pinks, and wallflowers ; but 
the crowning glory was a tulip, which the chil- 
dren were allowed to inspect as closely as they 
chose, but not to touch. 

“Think, children,” said Herr Welley, “of the 
Creator of these lovely flowers, and of the foli- 


101 


The First Day at School. 

age alone. Let us consider it : all of it is green 
in color, but of many shapes, sizes, and shades. 
What manifold changes our Father can make 
in green leaves alone ! There are thousands of 
plants in different parts of the world, and the 
foliage of no two species is alike. 

“ Then consider the flowers, from the purest 
white of these day lilies to the dark purple of 
the flags. All these beautiful things grew out 
of the same earth, had the same rain to water 
them, the same sun to quicken them; yet the 
violet is blue, the goldenlocks yellow, the rose 
red, and the tulip of varied colors. Then con- 
sider the odor of the lilies, violets, and roses. 
No matter whether blooming in sunny Italy or 
upon our gray heath, the fragrance, form, and 
color remains with each after its kind. 

‘‘Artists try to copy flowers, and sometimes 
they are very successful; but no art can give 
the copies perfume ; no painted flower can cast 
seed which will grow into new plants. They 
are no more to be compared with the living, 
blooming, sweet-scented flowers, than a wax • 
figure is to a living, breathing man. There 
are artists who have received more for a flower 


102 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

piece than the cottage and grounds of Herr 
Holm would bring if sold. The artist has 
worked for months over it, while our heavenly 
Father can cause millions of these to open 
their petals to the morning sun, and to bear 
seed for millions and millions more. What 
does our Saviour say of lilies, little Bartol ? ” 

“ ‘ Consider the lilies of the field, how they 
grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin : and 
yet I say unto you. That even Solomon in all 
his glory was not arrayed like one of these.’ ” 

‘‘Well done! And we know that the Saviour 
spoke nothing but truth. Here is a white lily ; 
even with the naked eye we can see the beauty 
of its velvety leaves; but your eyes shall see 
more.” 

He took from his pocket a magnifying glass, 
and, laying a petal of the lily upon the palm of 
his hand, examined it, and then let each pupil 
have a view of it. What a beautiful silvery 
web it was! so delicate, fine and perfect. Then 
he placed a piece of silk under the glass, and 
all noted the contrast. Coarse and uneven in 
texture, it was not worthy to be compared with 
the lily’s petal. 


The First Day at School. 103 

‘‘ So was Solomon clothed. You see, dear 
children, the difference between the work of 
God’s hand and of man’s. If he has clothed 
our earth with such beauty, what must be the 
beauty of that heavenly home where our Sa- 
viour dwells, and where, if we are worthy, we 
shall dwell with him forever ? ” 


CHAPTEE IX. 

REBELLION ANB ITS RESULT. 

HE week that school was kept in the Holms’ 



I cottage was an extremely pleasant one to 
the grown people, and to the majority of the 
ehildren. It was always a happy period to 
Grandfather Holm, because he loved children 
and found genial companionship in the school- 
master. Hilbert learned something new to 
break the monotony of his existence, when after 
each school day they gathered about the peat 
fire, and, although the large addition to her 
family added considerably to the household 
cares of Erau Holm, yet the great advantage 
of having a school upon any terms, and the 
evident improvement of the children since the 
last time the school met there, compensated 
for all. 

The Eckermeier children were impressed 
more particularly by the fact that the teacher 
wore a coat of rough homespun, that he put 
hoops on wooden vessels before and after 


104 


Rebellion and its Result. 105 

school hours, and that he and his pupils, as a 
rule, spoke Plattdeutsch, or low German. 

At the same time, Guido and Thekla were 
more interested in his instructions than in those 
of any of their Hamburg teachers, their thoughts 
were kept alert to answer his unexpected ques- 
tions, which the heath children were always 
prepared for, and generally answered correctly. 

On his part, Herr Welley admired the amia- 
bility of Thekla, and was well satisfied with 
Guido. Pauline’s haughty ways were appa- 
rently unnoticed, and he made no difference in 
his manner toward her than to the humblest pu- 
pil in his flock. 

“ I am really ashamed to have such a 
teacher,” complained Pauline to Guido, the 
evening of the second day. ‘‘ He has not one 
accomplishment like our Hamburg teachers, 
and his hands are as large and coarse as if he 
did all the work done on Luneburg Heath. 
Then he mixes his teaching up so that you 
never know what he is going to say next ; one 
minute telling us about the planets and the size 
of the earth, and the next telling us how to 
take care of our eyes.” 


106 The School on Luneburg Heath, 

“I wish you wouldn’t look so sour in school 
and answer him so crossly,” responded her 
brother, “I am really ashamed of you, and 
don’t see how he has so much patience with 
your ugly ways. We can’t change matters, so 
what is the use of grumbling.” 

“It lets them all see that we are used to 
better things, and cannot be contented in this 
dreary place. I despise such an ignorant 
teacher.” 

“But there are plenty of things you don’t 
know. You can’t cook, nor milk the cows, nor 
make butter and cheese. Suppose they would 
despise you and treat you badly because of 
your ignorance. I would give a good sum to 
play the flute like Herr Welley, and am going 
to ask him to teach me. A flute is something 
you can carry about with you, and if I learn to 
play well, I can accompany you and Thekla on 
the piano.” 

Just then Kathie came out of the cottage, 
carrying a wooden can. 

“What have you in the can, my child?” 
inquired Herr Welley, who had at that moment 
come from his walk and joined them. 


Rebellion and its Result. 107 

“Nothing, Herr Schoolmaster, I am going 
for water.” 

“ Nothing ! ” echoed he, “ nothing ! ” 

“No, Herr Welley, it is empty,” said Guido, 
glancing in it. 

“And yet full ; if it were not, the pressure of 
the atmosphere outside would cause it to fall 
to pieces.” 

“I know what is in it,” said Pauline; “it is 
air.” 

“ Exactly right! But what is air? ” 

“ It is an element.” * 

“Yes, it is one of the elements, but what 
does man name an element that you can see, 
hear, and feel, and weigh?” 

“ He calls it scales,” replied Pauline, naively. 

“It is a wonder that you didn’t say a doll,” 
laughed Guido. 

“ Don’t laugh at me,” said Pauline, angrily ; 
“ you don’t know any better yourself.” 

“I will put it in another form,” said the 
schoolmaster, “what is it that we cannot see, 
nor hear, nor feel, nor weigh? I vd\l tell you, 
it is the spirit. Now, what would be the com- 
panion and opposite,” — 


108 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

“ Oh, I know, the air is a body,” said Guido, 
flushing with pleasure over his discovery. 

“Exactly; the atmosphere is a body and a 
fluid as much as is water. You can hear the 
air move, and can feel it ; and, if you look up 
to the heavens, you will notice that it has a 
blue tinge.” 

“ But we can’t weigh it,” interposed Pauline, 
curtly. 

“Yes, it can be weighed. Otto von Geuricke, 
a biirgomeister of Magdeburg, in the seven- 
teenth century invented an air-pump which 
proved that it was possible to weigh air. He 
took two hollow half-globes of metal, and, 
putting them together, exhausted the air from 
them, and, upon weighing them, found them to 
be lighter. Since then it has been computed 
that the weight of air is about eight hundred 
times less than that of water.” 

“ The pressure of the air did not break the 
metal globe,” commented Guido. 

“No ; but when the inner air was exhausted, 
the pressure of the outside air upon the globe 
made it impossible to separate the two halves 
until the air was again allowed to enter. Some 


Rehellion and its Result. 109 

time I will tell you more of the wonderful pro- 
perties of air.” 

“Herr Welley,” said Guido, “I wish that 
you would be kind enough to teach me to play 
upon the flute ; then I can accompany my sis- 
ters on the piano when we get back to Ham- 
burg.” 

“Yes, if ever we do get back,” said Pauline, 
crossly ; “ I see no chance of anything but stay- 
ing on this miserable heath.” 

“You should be satisfied to stay in such a 
secure place,” ■ said the schoolmaster, mildly, 
“ and should be glad that you are not in Ham- 
burg. The French are making havoc of it, and 
there are thousands of Hamburgers who would 
be glad to exchange places with you, for they 
see no hope of driving out the enemy.” 

“ But it is unbearable here, and I feel that I 
cannot stay.” 

“Yes, you can stay, for it is God’s will. In 
his own good time you will, I hope, be back in 
Hamburg with your dear parents. You must 
be patient.” 

“What good would it do to be patient? It 
would not get me out of this miserable place 


110 The School on Lunehurg Heath, 

any sooner. Staying here is doing me no 
good.” 

“ It is to be hoped that it will do you some 
good,” replied Herr Welley, gravely. ‘‘You 
have need of patience, and perhaps this so- 
journ here will help you to acquire it.: You 
have no knowledge of household duties. Our 
kind Frau Holm is willing to teach you things 
which will be of use to you in your Journey 
through life.” 

“ To learn heath cooking will be of no use in 
Hamburg; nor would learning to spin and to 
knit be of any use to us there ; nor the learning 
to milk cows, and to make butter and cheese.” 

“But you may not pass all your days in the 
city, and knowledge of any kind will come into 
use some time.” 

“I don’t care for knowledge of this kind,” 
replied the girl, petulantly. 

“I have no doubt but that you feel the great 
change from life in Hamburg to life on Lune- 
burg Heath ; but it was the best that your kind 
parents could do in the emergency, and I con- 
sider it very ungrateful in you to rebel. I have 
thought of something which would occupy your 


Rehellion and its Result, 111 

mind, and would bej I think, of great pleasure 
to yourself and your parents, besides being of 
present use to you. I have made three books 
of writing-paper, one for each of you, in which 
you can write what you see and hear each day. 
It will be pleasant employment for you, and 
after you go back to Hamburg I am sure that 
it will be a pleasure to you to look over these 
diaries, and they will also give your parents 
exact knowledge of how you passed your time. 
I will help you.” 

“AVhat do we see here worth remembering? 
Nothing ever happens upon Luneburg Heath. 
There is nothing to make a diary worth the 
trouble.” 

‘‘You are much mistaken. Those who have 
eyes can see plenty of things to write of. You 
can all give your impressions of the heath, of 
its appearance, its products, the happenings of 
each day ; of your feehngs in regard to Guido’s 
being lost ; the school, the pupils, the studies ; 
and as you get accustomed to note what comes 
to your notice, you will be surprised at finding 
how much more you will see. Here are the 
books ; ” and he took them with an air of satis- 


112 The School on Luneburg Heath, 

faction from his coat-pocket. They were new 
and clean, and stitched together with care, and 
having backs of gaily-flowered paper. 

Two days passed, and the school was pro- 
gressing finely, when Herr Welley asked to see 
the diaries of the Eckermeier children ; and 
Guido and Thekla put theirs into his hand. 

“Yery good, very good indeed,” said he, 
glancing over the two pages ; “ they prove that 
you are observing; that you can clothe your 
thoughts in appropriate language ; and they 
are extremely well written, and are neat and 
clean. Now, Pauline, where is yours?” 

She passed it to him without a word, and 
when he opened it he found that she had not 
written a line. 

‘‘Why, how is this? Why have you not 
written in your diary?” 

“There is nothing to write about; I told you 
that before you gave me the book,” replied 
she, sullenly. 

“You could have come to me, and I would 
have helped you commence it. Now take the 
pen and write. Do you hear me ? ” 

But Pauline folded her arms, and looked de- 
fiantly at the schoolmaster. 


Hehellion and its Result, 113 

“I am ashamed of you,” whispered Guido. 

The whole school is now staring at you, and 
Grandftaher Holm is surprised and worried.” 

‘‘Who cares for these country clods?” was 
the scornful reply. 

“Do you know, child, that I stand in the 
place of your parents, and that, if you refuse 
to obey me, I have a right to punish you?” 

“Do you hear that, Pauline?” whispered 
Guido. 

“Yes, I hear,” cried Pauline, jumping up 
and striking her clenched fist upon the board 
which served for a desk ; “ but I am no Lune- 
burg peasant, and he dare not punish me.” 

“No, truly you are not,” said Herr Welley, 
sternly. “ You have not the politeness of man- 
ner and respect for your elders which our dear 
heath children possess. But you are a head- 
strong, insolent girl, who must be guided by 
harshness instead of kindness. What is it you 
are so vain of ? Of your father’s wealth, when 
perhaps the war has made tim a poor man ? 
Is it of your beautiful home in Hamburg? 
Perhaps it is burned to the ground by the 
Prench. Is it of your learning? The small- 
8 


114 The School on Lunehurg Heath, 

est child in this room can answer questions too 
difficult for you. Do you think that you honor 
us by being here? We do not consider you 
of the least credit to us until you learn to be- 
have yourself, and that I mean to teach you. 
As you do not consider us worthy your society, 
I command, you to leave us, and to stay out- 
side until such time as you see fit to acknow- 
.ledge your fault and promise to conduct your- 
self better.” 

“ That will, be never! ” cried PauHne, haugh- 
tily ; “I will not go outside !” 

Without any change of countenance, Herr 
Welley stepped forward, grasped her arm, and 
led her, struggling, from the room. 

“You must obey me, or your punishment 
will be heavier than staying outside the door. 
You will find that I am not to be ruled by you.” 

Pauline’s face blazed with shame at being so 
humiliated before people whom, in her ignor- 
ant folly, she despised ; and the moment that 
Herr Welley returned to the room she opened 
the door, walked in, and took her seat. In a 
tmoment the schoolmaster grasped her, took 
.her up bodily, and carried her from the room. 


115 


Rebellion and its Result. 

‘'For every return you stay out two hours 
longer, if it keeps you out all night,” said he ; 
and she by this time knew him well enough to 
believe what he said. 

Pauline did not return, and Guido and Thekla 
for a moment thought of following her out ; but 
a glance into the face of Herr AVelley convinced 
them that it would be as well not to trifle with 
him, so they kept their seats. 

Pauline was almost bewildered by the turn 
that affairs had taken, and for a time she was 
so angry and humiliated that she could not de- 
cide what course to adopt in order to show her 
displeasure at the way in which she had been 
treated. Her first thought was to run away; 
but when she called to mind Guido’s experi- 
ence, she considered it wiser to stay where she 
was. 

She hoped every minute to see the door 
open, and Guido or Thekla come to take her 
in ; but no, it remained closed, and the hum of 
voices made it known to her that the lessons 
were proceeding as usual. 

At eleven o’clock school was dismissed until 
afternoon, and the pupils came out with picks 


116 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

and shovels, and commenced their work on the 
heath, but by command of the schoolmaster no 
one was allowed to go near her. 

“How dare this clownish peasant to treat 
me, the rich Hamburg merchant’s daughter, in 
this way,” thought she, while tears of anger 
rose to her eyes. 

Dinner time came, and all the workers were 
summoned to the hot soup, dumpling and pota- 
toes, but Pauline was not invited. 

“I have told her she is at liberty to come in 
the moment that she is willing to acknowledge 
her fault. I see that kindness and courtesy 
are wasted upon her,” Herr Welley had said 
before sitting down to dinner. “ I forbid every 
one of you from taking her a crumb of bread or a 
drop of water, under penalty of being put out- 
side the cottage as she is.” 

The afternoon passed, school was out and 
the children went home. Supper was upon the 
table, to which the family sat down, but no one 
was sent to bring Pauline in, so she opened the 
door, came to the table and sat down. 

“Why did you come in, child?” inquired 
the schoolmaster. 


Rehellion and its Result, 117 

“ Because I am hungry, and want to take my 
supper.” 

“Do you acknowledge your fault and pro- 
mise to do better? ” 

“No, I promise nothing.” 

Herr Welley arose, grasped her hand, and 
hurried her outside the door. 

“ There you will stay until you promise* 
You shall not come in until you do.” 

“ I will die first,” exclaimed Pauline, angrily ; 
“yes, I will.” 

“ You can suit yourself in that matter, a dis- 
obedient, rebellious child is not of much ac- 
count anyway ; ” and the schoolmaster returned 
to the table. 

“Pauline will die of hunger,” said Thekla, ' 
bursting into tears ; “ if you leave her out she 
will be killed by some wild animal.” 

“ Be comforted, my dear child,” said Herr 
Welley, tenderly, “ she will not die of starva- 
tion, nor will she be molested by a wild animal ; 
instead, she will pass the night comfortably in 
her bed.” 

The sun set, the stars came out, and the 
heath was as still as a church-yard. Pauline 


118 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

had set her hopes upon her last words to Herr 
Welley, that she would die before she would 
acknowledge her fault. But present . appear- 
ances were that he was not the least concerned, 
instead, the conversation within seemed as 
cheerful as usual, then the evening hymn, and 
other signs of preparing for rest. 

. The company of dumb animals was better 
than none, and she crept into one of the stalls 
and listened to the hymn, much to the relief 
of the schoolmaster and Frau Holm, whose 
quick ears detected the sound of her feet 
among the heather. 

“ Oh, if my dear mother knew how they were 
treating me,” she said to herself, tearfully, for 
the words of the hymn had touched her heart; 
they being the pleadings of the gentle Saviour 
that all might come to him and find peace, for 
his yoke was easy and his burden light. 

Then she heard the trembling voice of the 
old grandfather mention her name in his even- 
ing prayer, asking God to put it into her heart 
to turn from her wrong-doing, and be obedient 
to those who had the care of her. 

Tears fell from her eyes, and her heart 


Mehellion and its Result. 119 

throbbed with the sudden resolve to go in and 
ask forgiveness. But she was not quite wilhng 
to promise better . conduct, so waited. She 
heard the children bidding their grandfather 
good-night, and go to their beds, then all was 
still in the cottage. 

Pauline, came out of the stall, went to the 
door of the cottage, opened it, and looked in. 
No one was there but Herr Welley and the grand- 
father, sitting close to the smouldering peat fire 
and conversing in a low tone ; she went quickly 
toward them, and, standing between them, took 
a hand of each. 

Forgive me, I have been stubborn and 
foolish ; I am sorry for it, and will not act that 
way again.” 

“God bless you, my daughter!” said the 
schoolmaster, with tears of joy in his eyes, as 
he placed her upon a seat by the fire, while 
the grandfather reached her a large bowl of 
bread and milk, which had been kept warm 
upon the hearth. 

Pauline drained the bowl to the last drop, 
and thought that nothing she had ever tasted 
was so good, then went to bed, happier than 
she had been since coming to the cottage. 


120 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

“Thank God for this victory, ” said Herr 
Welley, as he pressed the grandfather’s hand 
before leaving him for the night, “ nothing that 
has come my wS-y since I have been teaching 
has given me the anxiety experienced this day. 
I feel as the father felt at the return of his 
prodigal son, and my heart, like his, overflows 
with gratitude. Oh, God is good; and his 
mercy endureth for ever.” 


CHAPTER X. 


A BEEKEEPER. 

I T appeared that after the first step in the 
right direction there was a great change in 
the deportment of Pauline. When she came 
among the Holms the next morning, she greet- 
ed them with unusual friendliness ; and they, 
being kind-hearted, and therefore well-bred 
people, gave no token, except by increased 
kindness and tenderness, that anything out of 
the usual course had occurred the day before. 

She dreaded the coming of the other pupils, 
but Herr Welley provided for that by setting 
her to work upon her diary, and by giving her 
some good ideas to start with ; sho became so 
much absorbed in it that the children’s curious 
glances passed unnoticed; and the morning 
hymn was sung by Pauline with more hearty 
interest than ever before. 

The week had passed away ; it was the last 
day for school at Herr Holm’s; and all were 
sorry to part with Herr Welley. 

121 


122 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

Pauline had been suffering from toothache 
all the afternoon, and could restrain her tears 
no longer. 

“What is the matter, my child?” inquired 
Herr Welley, kindly. 

“I have a terrible pain in my tooth.” 

“Let me look at it; perhaps it is a tooth 
that should come out. Yes, it is one of your 
first teeth, and has little, if any, root, and a 
new one needs its place.” 

“ Oh, I wish that a dentist were here. If we 
were in Hamburg it should not ache a minute 
longer than I could help. I would not care to 
have it knocked out with a hammer.” 

“There is no dentist within miles of us,” said 
Frau Holm, compassionately; “in truth, I do 
not know of one on the heath, but I suppose 
that they are to be found in the villages.” 

“If Pauline is willing, I will take it out, and 
without the aid of a hammer. A heath school- 
master must know more than what is in the 
studies that he teaches.” 

Pauline was entirely satisfied that he should 
make the effort, and, taking a pair of small 
forceps from among his cooper’s tools, he took 
out the tooth deftly and quickly. 


A Beekeeper. 


123 


“Oh, you dear, good schoolmaster!” said 
Pauline, gratefully. “That tooth will never 
ache again ; the pain is all gone.” 

“I am very glad; and now I will show you 
and the other children what part of the tooth 
gave you pain ; ” and with the point of a pin he 
drew a thread-like piece of flesh from the tooth. 

“ This, my children, is the nerve, or the life 
of the tooth. This is what causes all the pain, 
for it is sensitive to heat and cold if, by the 
decay of the tooth, it is not sufficiently pro- 
tected. On each of our teeth the wise heavenly 
Father has placed a coating called the enamel, 
which protects it on all sides from whatever 
would injure the tooth. People sometimes in- 
jure this coating by biting upon metal or other 
hard substances, such as the shells of nuts, and 
in time a little black speck appears, and the 
tooth not only decays, but it injures the teeth 
on either side of it. Good teeth should be 
the rule, not the exception, and one cannot be 
too careful of them.” 

The children then separated to attend to 
their evening di\ties, and Herr Welley had a 
few words more with Pauline ; 


124 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

“Let me say, my dear child, that I believe 
your toothache resulted from a slight cold from 
being exposed to the evening air later than you 
have been accustomed to. You will see by this 
that each departure from right has a following 
of evil consequences. Our Father in heaven 
will gladly lead us in the path of right ; but if 
we will not obey his voice, we must not be sur- 
prised if chastisement follows. You are no ex- 
ception to this rule, and you see an example ; 
let it be a warning to keep you in the path of 
right.” 

The next week school was kept in a cottage 
not too far away for the Eckermeier children 
to walk, and they went with the others. This 
continued week after week, and they had grown 
contented with their lot, except for the longing 
to hear from their father and mother. 

At length the longing was gratified. A letter 
came from Frau. Eckermeier, which was joy- 
fully received, though not giving the good news 
hoped for. Frau Eckermeier wrote that she 
was living in Andreas Holm’s fishing-hut, where 
she sat most of the time looking from a small 
window upon the Elbe. She wore the costume 


A Beekeeper. 


125 


of a fisherman’s wife, and ate the same food, 
principally fish. She dared not walk out, be- 
cause the French had not only taken posses- 
sion of Hamburg, but of the surrounding coun- 
try. For the same reason, she could not come 
to see her children. Their father was now in 
England, and she could get no tidings of him. 
Their home, if not destroyed, was occupied by 
French soldiers ; and the distress of the people 
in Hamburg was increasing all the time. She 
counseled her children to be attentive to their 
religious duties, diligent, obedient to their fos- 
ter-parents, and grateful to them for giving 
them a home in this trying time ; and she con- 
cluded by telling them to have faith that in 
God’s own good time they would be together 
again, a happy family. 

The children shed tears as they read the 
words of the loved mother, and they resolved 
to follow her wishes. They joined that day in 
writing a letter to her, Guido saying that all 
were well, and happy, save for being away from 
their home and parents, and that he was learn- 
ing to play the flute ; Pauline wrote that she 
was well, and told of her learning to milk and 


126 The School on Lanebiirg Heath. 

cliurn and spin; and Thekla wrote that she 
had knitted a stocking down to the heel, and 
was that day to learn how to knit a heel. They 
concluded their epistle by telling of a holiday 
close at hand, when they were to go to church 
in the morning, and to have roast lamb and 
potatoes for dinner, with wild berries for des- 
sert. 

This holiday was for the purpose of giving 
thanks that while other parts of Europe were 
devastated by war, Luneburg Heath was in 
peace and security. 

Nothing was wanting to make the hohday a 
charming novelty to the children. The walk 
to the plain little church over the silent heath 
was enlivened by Hilbert telling of hunting 
there in early days, when his forefathers owned 
the cottage now his. The sermon, though in 
Plattdeutsch, was understood by the Ecker- 
meier children, and was within the compre- 
hension of the youngest ; then the walk home 
and the good dinner and the liberty to play all 
the afternoon, made it a holiday long to be re- 
membered. 

Early in July they had another festival, that 


127 


A Beekeeper. 

of shearing the sheep, for which the neighbor- 
ing farmers were invited to help, and their 
wives and children came to supper, and they 
had games on the heath and a cheery time ail 
around. 

The wool of this small heath sheep, being 
black or brown, needed no dying to be used in 
garments for the family ; and Frau Holm, like 
all good housewives of that day, was spinner 
of the wool, which was sent to a neighboring 
weaver to be woven into cloth, which she made 
up into clothing, warm and durable. 

When the heather was in bloom, there came 
a host to take possession of it, a busy, buzzing 
company, nothing more or less than the indus- 
trious honey-bees, myriads of them engaged in 
their work of making honey. Like the French, 
who for years overran Germany, leaving no 
spot unvisited and unrifled, so did this host 
plunder the heath for sweets. 

Their owners, who made their living by bee- 
keeping, resembled nomads, who, with their 
herds, wandered from one place to another. 
First, their hives were taken to fields where 
clover was in bloom, then to grain fields, and, 
lastly, to the blooming heather. 


128 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

One morning, while the Holm family were 
taking breakfast, a man dressed like other 
peasant farmers knocked at the cottage door, 
and was bidden to enter. 

“ Good morning ! ” said he, “ I came with 
my wagon load of beehives to ask if I may 
put them near your cottage. I know that your 
consent is already given, for we are friends 
and neighbors, and our fathers before us.” 

You are welcome, heartily welcome, neigh- 
bor Pennecke,” replied Hilbert Holm, shaking 
his hand cordially, *‘sit down and have break- 
fast with us.” 

The invitation was accepted, and the break- 
fast, in such pleasant company, was enjoyed. 

“ How many hives have you this morning ? ” 
inquired Hilbert. 

« Thirty-two ; the rest I have put by Krum- 
mer’s cottage.” 

“But,” said Hilbert, reflectively, “don’t you 
think they are too near to Trimm? I think it 
would be better to have them as far as possi- 
ble from him.” 

“I don’t think he would disturb my hives, 
he has none of his own and could not keep 


129 


A Beekeeper. 

them without people suspecting they were 
stolen, and he could not hide them. Besides, I 
have promised to give him a pan of honey.” 

“Have you heard anything from Hamburg 
lately?” inquired Grandfather Holm of the 
visitor. 

“Nothing that is good. The French are 
behaving there as badly as the Turks. They 
destroy everything in their way, and many 
thousands of the inhabitants are driven from 
their homes and have no place to lay their 
heads.” 

The Eckermeier children listened with deep 
interest and concern to this news ; they saw in 
it no promise of being able to return to their 
home. 

After breakfast the children went out to see 
the beehives put in the most favorable place ; 
then the beekeeper, again thanking Hilbert 
Holm for his kindness, bade them good-bye, 
and drove away. 


TRIMM AGAIN. 


NE night, about two weeks after the bee- 



keeper’s visit, Guido awoke almost smo- 
thered by the smoke of something burning, his 
first thought being that the cottage was on fire. 

“ Otto,” said he, giving the sleeping boy a 
push, “ don’t you smell something burning ? ” 

“Yes; somebody is. burning dry heather; it 
will do no harm,” replied the boy, sleepily. 

“ But it must be near here ; I will get up and 
see,” said Guido. 

Hilbert was awakened by the voices, and, 
dressing hastily, he, too, ran out of the cottage, 
and found the heath on fire. In a few minutes 
all but the grandfather and the infant were out 
of doors, and to the Eckermeier children it 
was a grand sight. The whole western horizon 
glowed with crimson splendor, and sparks flew 
in all directions. The heath was a seething 
sea of fire at times ; then, again, the fire was 
dulled as moorland impeded its progress ; this 
was overleaped, and the flames rushed on. 


130 


131 


Trim.m Again. 

The Holms’ cottage being surrounded by cul- 
tivated land, there was no danger of its taking 
fire ; but Hilbert dreaded that the smoke would 
suffocate the bees ; and, dipping cloths in wa- 
ter, he spread them over the hives, glad that 
their being placed close to his potato field kept 
them safe from the fire. 

Fortunately, a heavy shower came up, and 
the fire was extinguished before doing further 
damage; but Hilbert knew from the direction 
of the fire when first seen that the hives in the 
neighborhood of Trimm’s cottage would be in 
danger ; but he could do nothing to save them. 
Toward daylight he saw the beekeeper coming 
in his wagon. 

“Neighbor Holm,” cried he, “do you know 
that my poor bees are suffocated by the smoke ? •» 
The villain who set the heath on fire did it to 
spite me, and he shall suffer for it. I will give 
him cause to remember me.” 

“Neighbor Pennecke, we all know that your 
heart is better than your tongue speaks; that 
you would not do harm to any one in the world.” 

“But think of the killing of my poor bees, 
and robbing me of my means of support ! ” ex- 
claimed the beekeeper, with tears in his eyes. 


132 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

“ Have you any suspicion who set the heath 
on fire?” 

“Of course I have. Who could it be but 
that worthless idler, Trimm ? I knew he could 
not steal my hives, but I never thought that he 
would be wicked enough to set the heath on 
fire and destroy the food of my bees, if not rob 
them of life ; but he has done both.” 

“ But you do not know that he did it ; some 
thoughtless boy may have done it, or a shep- 
herd may have set it on fire from his pipe.” 

“I am almost sure that it was Trimm. Come 
with me to the hives.” 

Hilbert and all the children got into the 
wagon and went to the spot, where a sad sight 
met their eyes. On the blackened ashes of the 
heath the smoke was still rising in some places 
where low bushes had stood, and about the 
hives lay dead in heaps the bees that yester- 
day were busily and happily employed in gath- 
ering honey from the blooming heather; and 
Pennecke almost wept as he looked upon them. 

“The worthless thief!” said he, “to destroy 
these innocent little creatures! I feel like do- 
ing him some harm.” 


133 


Trimin Again. 

“ ‘Yengeance is mine, saith the Lord.’ Do 
not try to take the work out of his hands, 
neighbor.” 

“I don’t know why he did me such an in- 
jury,” continued the beekeeper. “I have never 
crossed him in any way that I know of. But 
you, Holm, I pity you for having to live so 
near such a man.” 

Yes, he is a bad neighbor, but we must try 
to bear such things patiently and help him to a 
better way of living if we can.” 

“ I hope he will keep out of my way, or I am 
afraid I will try a different plan from yours of 
making him better.” 

Trimm appeared to know this, for he kept 
out of sight, and when the beekeeper passed 
his cottage with the empty hives he saw no 
sign of life about it. 

The appearance of the heath after the rain 
was a surprise to the Eckermeier children. 
The growing heather had covered many little 
hollows which, now being covered with ashes, 
retained the water, making hundreds of minia- 
ture seas, which flashed and sparkled in the 
rays of the sun — a beautiful sight, though not 
of long duration. 


134 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

The time was drawing on for Hilbert Holm 
to harvest his crop of potatoes, and he noticed 
every morning when he visited the field that 
whole rows had been taken up by strange 
hands, and the vines trampled. 

He had no doubt but Trimm was the thief, 
and he did not know what course to take to 
stop the robbery of the vegetable of so much 
value to him. He knew it would be of no use 
to accuse Trimm, he would only get abuse and 
perhaps further injury; so there was only a 
choice between two evils, either to take the 
potatoes up before they were quite ripe, or to 
watch the field day and night. 

In early times it was necessary for people to 
guard their possessions from wild animals, but 
that was not such a miserable task as to watch 
for a human thief, who was also on the watch 
to keep from being discovered. 

So long as Trimm only stole potatoes for the 
needs of the day, Hilbert allowed him to do so, 
but when he found that provision was being 
made for the winter by taking a double quan- 
tity each night, he was compelled to guard his 
field. After working most of the day he 


Trimm Again, 135 

watched at night, and his wife and children 
guarded the field while he slept, even the 
smallest child being all that was needed to 
frighten away the thief, well knowing that if 
seen he could be informed upon and be heavily 
punished by the authorities. 

It was a great relief to all when the potatoes 
were ready to be taken up, and put in a secure 
place for the winter, and it was a subject for 
rejoicing that they were so fine and large, 
and so abundant, notwithstanding the quantity 
Trimm had taken, proving that year by year 
Hilbert’s land was growing more fertile. 

There was another harvest, in which old and 
young rejoiced, that being the advent of fresh 
pork, sausage, and other things which had 
been absent so long from the family board; 
and the Eckermeier children appreciated these 
things as they had never done in their Ham- 
burg home. The small crop of wheat was 
good, and they occasionally had white bread, 
in which case the meals were looked forward 
to with unalloyed pleasure by the children. 

When it came time to husk the corn, Hilbert 
and his helpers had their dinner sent out to 


136 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

the field. Hilbert had asked Trimm to help, 
promising him the wages given to the others, 
but he refused; and when the buskers were 
eating their dinners of rich, mealy potatoes 
and cold roast pork, he stood looking at them 
with envious eyes, but with no thought of 
sharing it by helping with the work ; but was 
angry that Herr Holm was better off than he, 
and bitter against the unequal distribution of 
things in this world, not blaming himself in 
the least for his poverty. 


CHAPTEK XIL 


BACK TO HAMBURG. 

LTHOUGH Hilbert Holm’s family were 



contented with their lot, there was one 
thing they craved, which no one could blame 
them for craving, and that was a well of good, 
pure water. They had never been able to pay 
for having one dug; but the time had come, 
for Hilbert received a letter from Herr Ecker- 
meier telling him to use the money in his pos- 
session for any purpose that he chose, as he 
intended him to keep it in payment for the 
support of his children. 

This was welcome news, not only for the 
sake of his own family, but for that of the 
Eckermeier children; and the next day the 
well-digger, named Windorf, was on hand with 
his helpers, and the work commenced. 

Windorfs wife had died some time before, 
and he could not leave his ten-year-old daugh- 
ter at home alone, so he brought her to the 
Holms’ cottage. She was a small girl for her 


137 


138 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

age, and of a timid nature ; she seldom spoke, 
and appeared better satisfied when no one took 
notice of her. But her heart went out to the 
infant Eebecca, and Frau Holm found that she 
could be trusted to have the care of her. The 
Eckermeier children and the others were will- 
ing to amuse the babe if she was good, but if 
she cried they wanted to leave her. Not so 
Dora Windorf ; no trouble was too great to her 
to soothe the child to sleep, and she never 
wearied of watching by her cradle. She proved 
herself invaluable to Frau Holm at that busy 
time, for it was a large family now gathered 
under the thatched roof, and, having but poor 
utensils to work with, it required management. 

The well-digger had brought boards to line 
the well, as was customary in those days, and 
the work was progressing finely, the children 
watching every moment that they were allowed 
to stand by to see the earth brought up from 
the deep well with a windlass. At length it 
was ready for the boards, and when Windorf 
placed them in position he found that several 
were missing. 

“Have you a thief about here?” he inquired 


139 


Back to Hamburg. 

of Herr Holm. ‘‘I brought the exact number 
of boards needed, and four are missing.” 

‘‘ There is no one in this region who has ever 
been suspected of taking other people’s pro- 
perty, except Trimm.” 

“Will you go with me to his place and see if 
we can get them back ? ” 

“It would be of no use. If he has them, 
they are in fire-wood by this time ; and, if not, 
he is a dangerous man to trifle with.” 

It was with much loss of time that four more 
boards were brought, and the well was com- 
pleted; and then the Holm family wondered 
how they had so long lived without the clear, 
cool water : and, it being the week for school 
there, Herr Welley came promptly to time, and 
shared in the general joy. 

“ Where there is no water the people cannot 
live,” said he to the children. “The great De- 
sert of Sahara, in Africa, which is larger than 
the whole of Germany, has but few places at 
which water can be had. Truly, God is good 
to us on Luneburg Heath in providing us with 
excellent water, which can be had by digging 
but a few feet under ground. In early days 


140 The School on Luyiehurg Heath. 

people did not know this, and in the Bible we 
read of terrible battles being fonght for the 
possession of fountains of water.” 

The heather was done blooming; beehives 
had been taken home ; harvests were all gath- 
ered in ; and winter was at hand. Cold winds 
swept over Luneburg Heath and howled at the 
door of the Holms’ cottage. But the family 
sat within, warm and comfortable, and as conr 
tented as it is possible to be in this world, yet 
always looking forward to a better world, pre- 
pared for those who love God. Like the indus- 
trious bees and the prudent ants, they had laid 
up store for the winter days ; and, with plenty 
of food and shelter for themselves and their 
stock, they could bid defiance to the storm 
king that raged over the moors. 

It was well for the Eckermeier children that 
they had come to the cottage during the mild 
days of spring, for it would have been far more 
difficult for them to become accustomed to life 
there in winter. They would have found it past 
endurance to be shut up for most of the time in 
one room with but a single window, and with 
the smoking peat upon the hearth. 


Back to Hamburg. 141 

But the months that had flown accustomed 
them to many things, and they had ceased to 
repine for the carpets and drapery, lamps, 
glass, silver, china, and other luxuries which 
they had never known the want of in their 
Hamburg home. 

One of their grievances had been that cows 
and sheep shared the home with them, but 
during the dull days of winter they, too, found 
that even dumb animals can be company for 
human beings, and they petted the gentle crea- 
tures and took care of them with as keen 
interest as did the others, and by spring the 
cows were glossy from the attention their coats 
received. 

The old grandfather did not let these days 
of winter pass unimproved; from his store of 
knowledge and ripe experience he gave instruc- 
tion, not only for this world but for the next, and 
the children were growing into sensible, prac- 
tical, cheerful Christians. 

Toward spring they had good news from 
Hamburg. God’s strong hand had delivered 
it from the tyranny of the French, and there 
were smiles instead of tears, and praises and 


142 The School on Lunehui'g Heath. 

tlianks were given in the churches and homes 
of the land. 

The first Sunday in June was appointed for 
thanksgiving in the church on Luneburg Heath, 
and Hilbert Holm wished all that could leave 
home to go. It was decided that Kathie must 
stay to be company for the grandfather and to 
take care of the baby, and she saw the others 
depart with a cheerful countenance, though 
longing to be with them. 

They had been gone about an hour, and she 
had put the little one to sleep, when through 
the open door of the cottage came a rough- 
looking man, without the customary courtesy 
of giving a knock to announce his presence. 
His hair and beard were uncombed, and his 
clothes in tatters, and Kathie drew back in 
terror, for she recognized him as their neigh- 
bor Trimm. 

“ Ha ! ” said he, with a coarse laugh, “ did I 
frighten you. Don’t you know me, neighbor 
Holm? I saw your people pass on their way 
to church, and thought it a good time to pay 
you a visit. ” 

“ I am glad you came, Trimm. I have longed 


143 


Back to Hamburg. 

to see you, and to try to say or do something 
that will aid you to live a better life. In this 
Bible upon my knees we have the way pointed 
out; O Trimm, listen to what God says to us.” 

“ But I didn’t come for that, I have no time 
to listen, I came to make a trade with you, and 
the advantage will be all on your side.” 

“But I transact no business on the blessed 
Sabbath ; come some other time, Trimm, and I 
will do what I can to be of use to you.” 

“ No, now is the time, while the family are 
away. I want to give my cottage and all that 
belongs to it into your hands.” 

“Your cottage, Trimm?” exclaimed the old 
man, in astonishment. 

“ Yes, and by this you will get rid of a bad 
neighbor, who steals your potatoes and boards, 
and all he can lay hands on, and sets fire to the 
heath if things don’t suit him. You shall have 
my two children into the bargain, who, with 
your own and the rich merchant’s children, will 
make quite a colony.” 

“ Trimm,” said the old man, solemnly, “ God’s 
voice calls upon you to turn from your evil 
ways. Oh, obey that voice before it is too late.” 


144 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

“ I haven’t time for that now ; what I want is 
your gold and silver in exchange for my cot- 
tage and children.” 

‘‘Gold and silver in the cottage of a Lune- 
burger ? ” exclaimed the old man, while Kathie, 
frightened beyond speech, took the sleeping 
child from the cradle, and slipping from the 
room crept into the cow’s stall. 

“ You paid the well-digger in silver, there is 
plenty more where that came from. That rich 
Hamburg merchant would be too proud to let 
his children live here free of cost. No, he has 
paid Hilbert well; where is the money? ” 

The old man was speechless, and the robber 
cast his eyes about the room in search of a re- 
ceptacle which might contain it. 

“ Where are your treasures, I say ; don’t you 
hear me ? ” 

“ My treasures are laid up in heaven, while 
you, O sinful man, are on the broad road to 
destruction.” 

“ But Hilbert Holm has treasures on earth . 

j 

tell me where they are, or it will be hard upon 
you to contend with me, I will stop at nothing. 
Tell me where you hide them? ” 


Back to Hamburg, 


145 


■ “I hide them, when I have not had the use 
of my limbs for six years ! ” 

‘‘But you have eyes; you saw where Holm 
put his money.” 

“I will not tell you,” answered the old man, 
feebly. 

“Birds that can sing, and won’t sing, must 
be made to sing,” replied the ruffian, angrily. 
“Do you see this noose with a sHp-knot? It 
will take but a second to throw it over your 
head, and when it tightens about your neck 
maybe you will think it quite as wise to speak.” 

“O Father in heaven, take me under thy 
protecting care,” said the old man, folding his 
hands in supplication, as the noose was slipped 
over his head. 

Kathie, almost beside herself with fright, did 
not know whether to run to the help of her 
grandfather, or to stay to protect the infant; 
but the matter was decided for her ; she saw 
the thief run from the cottage, carrying the 
sack of money. He ran with mad haste, and 
Kathie was at a loss to know the cause ; but 
when she crept from her hiding-place she saw 
her brother Thomas and her uncle Andreas 
10 


146 The School on Lunehurg Heath. 

driving toward her, and she knew that Trimm 
had seen them from the window. 

She rushed in, and found her grandfather in 
tears as he loosened the rope from his neck. 

“To think what a poor creature I am!” said 
he, mournfully. “To save my useless, crippled 
life for, perhaps, only a few days, I betrayed 
the place where my son hid the money, and 
now it is gone. I was being strangled ; I could 
not help doing what I did; I was weak, and 
frightened, and miserable.” 

Andreas and Thomas came in, and at the 
same moment shriek after shriek of pain rent 
the air. Kathie rushed out with her uncle and 
her brother, and they saw the wretched Trimm 
running toward his home, followed by a swarm 
of angry bees that were stinging him unmerci- 
fully. 

In his hurry to escape, he had rounded too 
suddenly the clump of heath bushes near the 
cottage, and had knocked a beehive from its 
place. He was immediately attacked by the 
little workers and so severely punished that, in 
order to fight them off, he dropped the sack of 
money, and it was found by Thomas, and re- 


147 


Back to Ilamhurg. 

turned to its former hiding-place, to the de- 
light of Grandfather Holm. 

When the family returned from church there 
was much for them to hear and to talk of, for, 
to the delight of the Eckermeier children, they 
heard that Thomas and Andreas had come to 
take them back to Hamburg, and to their par- 
ents and their dear old home. 

They had learned to love all in the cottage, 
from grandfather down to little Eebecca; had 
grown into healthy, rosy young people ; had 
learned to work; and had acquired, besides 
other knowledge, that of heavenly things, so 
implanted, by precept and example, in their 
young hearts that their whole after life was 
influenced for good. 

The next day Hilbert and Thomas went to 
Trimm’s cottage, and found the children alone. 
Their father had fled, after telling them to go 
to the Holms’ cottage. But they were afraid 
to venture alone, and were sitting weeping 
over their desolate condition. They were 
taken care of, and found a mother in Frau 
Holm. 

The next day the Eckermeier children left. 


148 The School on Luneburg Heath. 

not without tears, for their home in Hamburg, 
where they were joyfully welcomed; and no- 
thing ever blotted from their loving remem- 
brance the time that they had passed on Lune- 
burg Heath. 




V ■ 'i. 














